The Calvary at Guimiliau, completed in 1588, is located in

Guimiliau Guimiliau (; ) is a commune in the Finistère department of Brittany in north-western France. It is noted for the Guimiliau Parish close. It should not be confused with the neighbouring commune and village of Lampaul-Guimiliau. Population In ...

Brittany Brittany ( ) is a peninsula, historical country and cultural area in the north-west of modern France, covering the western part of what was known as Armorica in Roman Gaul. It became an Kingdom of Brittany, independent kingdom and then a Duch ...

, in northwestern France. It is part of the Guimiliau "enclos paroissial" (

Guimiliau Parish close The Guimiliau Parish close (Enclos paroissial) is located at Guimiliau in the arrondissement of Morlaix in Brittany (administrative region), Brittany in north-western France. The parish takes its name from Saint Miliau who was beheaded in 792 on hi ...

Background

The

calvary is enormous and the statues displayed on it cover 37 scenes from the life and death of

Jesus Christ Jesus (AD 30 or 33), also referred to as Jesus Christ, Jesus of Nazareth, and many Names and titles of Jesus in the New Testament, other names and titles, was a 1st-century Jewish preacher and religious leader. He is the Jesus in Chris ...

. It comprises an octagonal base with arched corners/buttresses. The statues are spread over the surface (platform) of this base and along the frieze which runs around it. A single cross with crosspiece rises from the platform. It was built between 1581 and 1588. The date 1581 was inscribed on the

architrave In classical architecture, an architrave (; , also called an epistyle; ) is the lintel or beam, typically made of wood or stone, that rests on the capitals of columns. The term can also apply to all sides, including the vertical members, ...

above the altar on the east facade and 1588 appears near the figure of the Virgin Mary in the scene depicting the

Adoration of the Magi The Adoration of the Magi or Adoration of the Kings or Visitation of the Wise Men is the name traditionally given to the subject in the Nativity of Jesus in art in which the three Magi, represented as kings, especially in the West, having fo ...

. The calvary was restored in 1881 and the lichens cleaned off in 2009. The buttress on the north-east corner has a small stairway leading up to the main surface of the platform. This enabled the calvary to be used as a

pulpit A pulpit is a raised stand for preachers in a Christian church. The origin of the word is the Latin ''pulpitum'' (platform or staging). The traditional pulpit is raised well above the surrounding floor for audibility and visibility, accesse ...

. The priest could deliver a sermon, surrounded by pictorial representations of the stories he would relate to a largely illiterate congregation. Each buttress has a niche on the outer side in which there are depictions of the

Evangelists Evangelist(s) may refer to: Religion * Four Evangelists, the authors of the canonical Christian Gospels * Evangelism, publicly preaching the Gospel with the intention of spreading the teachings of Jesus Christ * Evangelist (Anglican Church), a ...

each sculpted with their attribute. The main facade is that on the west side and this has an altar added to it. This altar has a column on each side, these supporting the architrave and in a niche here is a depiction of saint

Paul Aurelian Paul Aurelian (known in Breton as Paol Aorelian or Saint Pol de Léon and in Latin as Paulinus Aurelianus) was a 6th-century Welshman who became first bishop of the See of Léon and one of the seven founder saints of Brittany. He allegedly die ...

who founded the diocese of Léon. The various statues are placed on the main platform and along the frieze which runs around the plinth. The figures on the frieze are smaller than those on the platform and those on the platform are in

ronde bosse ''Ronde-bosse'', ''en ronde bosse'' or encrusted enamel is an enamelling technique developed in France in the late 14th century that produces small three-dimensional figures, or reliefs, largely or entirely covered in enamel. The new method in ...

whilst those on the frieze are in

high relief High may refer to: Science and technology * Height * High (atmospheric), a high-pressure area * High (computability), a quality of a Turing degree, in computability theory * High (tectonics), in geology an area where relative tectonic uplift t ...

. On the frieze above the columns of the altar there is an inscription reading

The Cross

Guimiliau - Enclos paroissial - le calvaire - PA00089998 - 006

The cross has a granite shaft and the crucified Jesus, sculpted in kersanton, is attended by four angels who are collecting his blood. On the crosspiece below are back to back ("géminée") depictions of the

Virgin Mary Mary was a first-century Jewish woman of Nazareth, the wife of Saint Joseph, Joseph and the mother of Jesus. She is an important figure of Christianity, venerated under titles of Mary, mother of Jesus, various titles such as Perpetual virginity ...

and

St Peter Saint Peter (born Shimon Bar Yonah; 1 BC – AD 64/68), also known as Peter the Apostle, Simon Peter, Simeon, Simon, or Cephas, was one of the Twelve Apostles of Jesus and one of the first leaders of the early Christian Church. He appears repe ...

and

John the Evangelist John the Evangelist ( – ) is the name traditionally given to the author of the Gospel of John. Christians have traditionally identified him with John the Apostle, John of Patmos, and John the Presbyter, although there is no consensus on how ...

and Saint Yves. The top part of the cross was damaged in a storm in 1902 and refashioned by

Yann Larhantec Yann Larc'hantec or Yann Larhantec was a Bretons, Breton sculptor born in Plougonven on 30 May 1829. He died in Landerneau on 11 January 1913. Biography Yann Larc'hantec or Yann Larhantec was born on 30 May 1829 in Plougonven and died on 11 Jan ...

The west face of the calvary

Guimiliau - Enclos paroissial - le calvaire - PA00089998 - 017

Firstly on this face on the calvary there is a niche on the arched buttress which contains a statue of

. Then on the upper surface of the west facing side, the first two sculptures deal with the

Crown of thorns According to the New Testament, a woven crown of thorns ( or ) was placed on the head of Jesus during the Passion of Jesus, events leading up to his crucifixion of Jesus, crucifixion. It was one of the Arma Christi, instruments of the Passion, e ...

. Firstly we see Jesus seated and with his hands tied. He awaits his fate with an air of resignation. Then we see four soldiers in the act of forcing the crown down onto Jesus' head in a most brutal way. The remaining statuary on the west side platform deals with the

Resurrection of Jesus The resurrection of Jesus () is Christianity, Christian belief that God in Christianity, God Resurrection, raised Jesus in Christianity, Jesus from the dead on the third day after Crucifixion of Jesus, his crucifixion, starting—or Preexis ...

. Jesus stands upright and emerges from the tomb whilst at his feet guards sleep, surrounded by a heap of discarded weaponry. They have perhaps drunk too much wine as one clutches a wine jug. Jesus raises his hand to give a blessing and in the other hand he holds the "Cross of resurrection". To his left, a soldier stands open-eyed in wonder to see the scene before him. He holds up a shield bearing a depiction of a lion. Apart from the two sleeping guards another soldier stands and views the scene with astonishment. Next we have a

pietà The Pietà (; meaning "pity", "compassion") is a subject in Christian art depicting the Mary (mother of Jesus), Blessed Virgin Mary cradling the mortal body of Jesus Christ after his Descent from the Cross. It is most often found in sculpture. ...

covering the scene after Jesus has been taken down from the cross and finally we are given a view of the mouth of hell which includes the legendary Katell Gollet, who had taken the devil as a lover and is now shown trapped and fleeing from her lover whilst above a trumpet sounds the

Last Judgement The Last Judgment is a concept found across the Abrahamic religions and the '' Frashokereti'' of Zoroastrianism. Christianity considers the Second Coming of Jesus Christ to entail the final judgment by God of all people who have ever lived, res ...

. Finally, we have the niche holding the statue of

shown with his attribute, the eagle. The eagle in fact, stands alone. The frieze on this side has a depiction of the

Entry into Jerusalem The triumphal entry into Jerusalem is a narrative in the four canonical Gospels describing the arrival of Jesus in Jerusalem a few days before his crucifixion. This event is celebrated each year by Christians on Palm Sunday. According to the ...

and then, after the statue of saint Pol, there is a scene showing the

Last Supper Image:The Last Supper - Leonardo Da Vinci - High Resolution 32x16.jpg, 400px, alt=''The Last Supper'' by Leonardo da Vinci - Clickable Image, ''The Last Supper (Leonardo), The Last Supper'' (1495-1498). Mural, tempera on gesso, pitch and mastic ...

. * In the scene depicting Jesus being crowned with thorns, Jesus is sat with hands tied whilst soldiers use a bar to force the crown into his flesh. * In the scene depicting the entry into Jerusalem, a disciple lays a cloak under the feet of the donkey as the entourage arrives and the sculptor has added an olive tree to the composition. Guimiliau - Enclos paroissial - le calvaire - PA00089998 - 011

Guimiliau - Enclos paroissial - le calvaire - PA00089998 - 011

The east face of the calvary

On the upper surface of the east facing side, we firstly have a statue of a

cavalier The term ''Cavalier'' () was first used by Roundheads as a term of abuse for the wealthier royalist supporters of Charles I of England and his son Charles II of England, Charles II during the English Civil War, the Interregnum (England), Int ...

on horseback this being the figure who leads the scene covering Christ Carrying the Cross. Then we see Jesus being mocked and teased, then the "mise au tombeau" with Jesus' body being prepared for burial and finally

Pontius Pilate Pontius Pilate (; ) was the Roman administration of Judaea (AD 6–135), fifth governor of the Judaea (Roman province), Roman province of Judaea, serving under Emperor Tiberius from 26/27 to 36/37 AD. He is best known for being the official wh ...

depicted washing his hands. The frieze below concentrates on Jesus' childhood with a depiction of the

then the Nativity and culminating with the

Flight into Egypt The flight into Egypt is a story recounted in the Gospel of Matthew (Matthew 2:13–Matthew 2:23, 23) and in New Testament apocrypha. Soon after the Biblical Magi, visit by the Magi, an angel appeared to Saint Joseph, Joseph in a dream telling ...

. We then have the niche containing

Mark the Evangelist Mark the Evangelist (Koine Greek, Koinē Greek: Μᾶρκος, romanized: ''Mârkos''), also known as John Mark (Koine Greek, Koinē Greek language, Greek: Ἰωάννης Μᾶρκος, Romanization of Greek, romanized: ''Iōánnēs Mârkos;'' ...

and his attribute the lion. 4366

South face of the calvary

On the upper surface of the south facing side, there is firstly a depiction of Jesus leading an innocent from Hell. This is followed by

Saint Veronica Saint Veronica, also known as ''Berenike'', was a widow from Jerusalem who lived in the 1st century AD, according to extra-biblical Christian traditions. Apocryphal texts relate how Veronica was moved with sympathy seeing Jesus carrying the cr ...

holding her veil upon which Jesus' image has appeared. The next scene covers Jesus' baptism followed by a depiction of Jesus carrying the Cross. Then on the frieze below is a statue depicting the seated

Luke the Evangelist Luke the Evangelist was one of the Four Evangelists—the four traditionally ascribed authors of the canonical gospels. The Early Church Fathers ascribed to him authorship of both the Gospel of Luke and the Acts of the Apostles. Prominent figu ...

with his attribute the ox, his statue contained in a

niche Niche may refer to: Science *Developmental niche, a concept for understanding the cultural context of child development and growth *Ecological niche, a term describing the relational position of an organism's species *Niche differentiation, in ec ...

followed by a scene depicting the visitation. Saint Elizabeth and a servant greet the

. Next, comes a depiction of Jesus washing a disciple's feet with the

Annunciation The Annunciation (; ; also referred to as the Annunciation to the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Annunciation of Our Lady, or the Annunciation of the Lord; ) is, according to the Gospel of Luke, the announcement made by the archangel Gabriel to Ma ...

being the last scene shown on the frieze. In the niche in the next buttress is a depiction of

Matthew the Evangelist Matthew the Apostle was one of the twelve apostles of Jesus. According to Christian traditions, he was also one of the four Evangelists as author of the Gospel of Matthew, and thus is also known as Matthew the Evangelist. The claim of his g ...

with his attribute, a small boy. * The depiction of the ritual of Jesus washing the disciples' feet comes in three sections. In the first, a disciple is seated whilst three disciples stand behind waiting their turn and taking a glass which sits on a small table. In the central section Jesus, his sleeves rolled up, kneels before

Saint Peter Saint Peter (born Shimon Bar Yonah; 1 BC – AD 64/68), also known as Peter the Apostle, Simon Peter, Simeon, Simon, or Cephas, was one of the Twelve Apostles of Jesus and one of the first leaders of the Jewish Christian#Jerusalem ekklēsia, e ...

and rubs his right foot vigorously. The other foot rests in a bowl of water. Behind them another two disciples carry a basin and a jug of water, this to be used for rinsing. In the third and final group

has his arms crossed and stands with the other four disciples, one of whom is seated. All the disciples appear to greet Jesus' action with incomprehension and discomfort, not understanding and not comfortable with the apparent change of roles occurring. * On the corner on the calvary's south-west face, Jesus is shown leading the damned from

Limbo The unofficial term Limbo (, or , referring to the edge of Hell) is the afterlife condition in medieval Catholic theology, of those who die in original sin without being assigned to the Hell of the Damned. However, it has become the gene ...

—see

Harrowing of Hell In Christian theology, the Harrowing of Hell (; Greek language, Greek: – "the descent of Christ into Christian views on Hell, Hell" or Christian views on Hades, Hades) is the period of time between the Crucifixion of Jesus and his Resurre ...

, this before we encounter St Veronica with her veil and Jesus' baptism, before coming to the main procession involving Christ Carrying the Cross. * At this point and just after the depiction of St Veronica, we see Jesus' baptism by

John the Baptist John the Baptist ( – ) was a Jewish preacher active in the area of the Jordan River in the early first century AD. He is also known as Saint John the Forerunner in Eastern Orthodoxy and Oriental Orthodoxy, John the Immerser in some Baptist ...

in the presence of an angel—the

Baptism of Jesus The baptism of Jesus, the ritual purification of Jesus with water by John the Baptist, was a major event described in the three synoptic Gospels of the New Testament ( Matthew, Mark and Luke). It is considered to have taken place at Al-Maghta ...

. The angel holds Jesus' tunic whilst the baptism takes place. John the Baptist wears an animal skin and holds a book in one hand. The other hand, with which John pours the water of the

River Jordan The Jordan River or River Jordan (, ''Nahr al-ʾUrdunn''; , ''Nəhar hayYardēn''), also known as ''Nahr Al-Sharieat'' (), is a endorheic basin, endorheic river in the Levant that flows roughly north to south through the Sea of Galilee and d ...

onto Jesus' head, is broken. * The scene depicting Christ Carrying the Cross is perhaps the most spectacular part of the Guimiliau calvary. Jesus carrying his cross does of course dominate the scene but the disposition and treatment of those forming the procession create a feeling of movement. The cortège is led by a cavalier on horseback and includes a soldier beating out a rhythm on a

tambour In classical architecture, a is the inverted bell of the Corinthian capital around which are carved acanthus leaves for decoration. The term also applies to the wall of a circular structure, whether on the ground or raised aloft on pendent ...

and another blowing a trumpet. The soldier in front of Jesus leans maliciously on the cross to increase its weight.

Simon of Cyrene Simon of Cyrene (, Standard Hebrew ''Šimʿon'', Tiberian Hebrew ''Šimʿôn''; , ''Simōn Kyrēnaios'') was the man compelled by the Romans to carry the cross of Jesus of Nazareth as Jesus was taken to his crucifixion, according to all three ...

helps Jesus to carry the cross and a second soldier is shown behind Jesus blowing another trumpet. Another sits with a shield and another carries a whip which he presses down on the cross which includes both

patibulum Crucifixion is a method of capital punishment in which the condemned is tied or nailed to a large wooden cross, beam or stake and left to hang until eventual death. It was used as a punishment by the Achaemenid Empire, Persians, Carthaginians, ...

and

stipes Crucifixion is a method of capital punishment in which the condemned is tied or nailed to a large wooden cross, beam or stake and left to hang until eventual death. It was used as a punishment by the Achaemenid Empire, Persians, Carthaginians, ...

. Note that the soldiers in this scene wear the military dress prevalent at the time of the

Catholic League (French) The Catholic League of France (), sometimes referred to by contemporary (and modern) Catholic Church, Catholics as the Holy League (), was a major participant in the French Wars of Religion. The League, founded and led by Henry I, Duke of Guise, i ...

. File:2012 08 Bretagne 370.JPG, The horseman leading the cortege of Christ Carrying the Cross. In the niche below we see the seated St Matthew. File:4354.Calvaire-Kalvarienberg von Saint Miliau in Guimiliau zwischen 1581 und 1588 errichtet zeigt mit insgesamt 200 Figuren 17 Passionsszenen im Turm und im Fries 15 Szenen aus dem Leben Jesu.JPG, Part of the procession accompanying Jesus carrying the Cross to

Golgotha Calvary ( or ) or Golgotha () was a site immediately outside Jerusalem's walls where, according to Christianity's four canonical gospels, Jesus was crucified. Since at least the early medieval period, it has been a destination for pilgrimage. ...

. On the left we see St Veronica with her veil, then Jesus being baptized and then some of the soldiers accompanying Jesus. File:Guimiliau - Enclos paroissial - le calvaire - PA00089998 - 035.jpg, St Veronica holds up her veil bearing Jesus' image. File:2012 08 Bretagne 429.JPG, The front of the procession of Christ Carrying the Cross. A soldier beats out a rhythm on a tambour. File:4357.La Visitation-Besuch-Elisabeth begrüßt mit einer freundschaftlichen Geste Maria und Maria reicht ihr einen Becher-Dahinter Joseph stehend.Kalvarienberg-Calvaire-Guimiliau.JPG, The visitation. Mary meets with St Elizabeth. File:4359.Le Lavement des pieds-Fußwaschung Jesus wäscht Petrus und seinen Jüngern die Füße Calvaire-Kalvarienberg-Guimiliau-Saint Miliau-Enclos Paroissal-Umfriedeter Pfarrbezirk.JPG, Jesus washing the disciples' feet. Note that the disciple sitting on the far left is taking off his shoes ready to take his turn.

The north face of the calvary

On the upper surface of the north face, we start on the left with

sitting on his throne and washing his hands. His servant is preparing the water and a small dog can be seen at his feet. This is followed by two

Pharisees The Pharisees (; ) were a Jews, Jewish social movement and school of thought in the Levant during the time of Second Temple Judaism. Following the Siege of Jerusalem (AD 70), destruction of the Second Temple in 70 AD, Pharisaic beliefs became ...

who are holding law books and a copy of the written accusation concerning Jesus. Then we see Jesus tied up by four Roman soldiers who are mocking him, this followed by the actual flogging. Jesus is tied to a column and is being whipped by one of the soldiers whilst two others chat and a fourth lays sleeping at Jesus' feet. On the section of frieze below we have

, then the circumcision and then Jesus praying in

Gethsemane Gethsemane ( ) is a garden at the foot of the Mount of Olives in East Jerusalem, where, according to the four Gospels of the New Testament, Jesus Christ underwent the Agony in the Garden and was arrested before his crucifixion. The garden is ...

with three of the disciples asleep. Finally, we see Judas holding his purse, Jesus' arrest and St Peter taking out his sword to cut off

Malchus Malchus (; , ) was the servant of the Jewish High Priest Caiaphas who participated in the arrest of Jesus as written in the four gospels. According to the Bible, one of the disciples, Simon Peter, being armed with a sword, cut off the servan ...

's ear. * In the scene depicting Jesus' arrest the three soldiers involved wear renaissance costume and sport large moustaches.

The church

The Église Saint-Miliau, the parish church in the Guimiliau enclos paroissial, has a magnificently carved porch dating to 1606-1617 and a 16th-century bell tower in the Beaumanoir style. The ossuary ("Chapelle funéraire") dates to 1648.

Gallery

File:Guimiliau - Enclos paroissial - le calvaire - PA00089998 - 032.jpg, Jesus has reclaimed an innocent from the jaws of Hell. File:Guimiliau - Enclos paroissial - le calvaire - PA00089998 - 112.jpg, At the "Last Supper" a servant is busy serving bread rolls and wine. File:Guimiliau - Enclos paroissial - le calvaire - PA00089998 - 128.jpg, The unfortunate Kattell Gollet tries to escape the devil who pursues her. File:Guimiliau - Enclos paroissial - le calvaire - PA00089998 - 029.jpg, St Matthew in his niche File:4357.La Visitation-Besuch-Elisabeth begrüßt mit einer freundschaftlichen Geste Maria und Maria reicht ihr einen Becher-Dahinter Joseph stehend.Kalvarienberg-Calvaire-Guimiliau.JPG, The visitation. File:4359.Le Lavement des pieds-Fußwaschung Jesus wäscht Petrus und seinen Jüngern die Füße Calvaire-Kalvarienberg-Guimiliau-Saint Miliau-Enclos Paroissal-Umfriedeter Pfarrbezirk.JPG, Jesus washing the disciples' feet. File:Guimiliau - Enclos paroissial - le calvaire - PA00089998 - 027.jpg, Another view of St Matthew and his attribute, a small boy. File:Guimiliau - Enclos paroissial - le calvaire - PA00089998 - 055.jpg, Two soldiers use a bar to press the crown of thorns into Jesus' head. File:Guimiliau - Enclos paroissial - le calvaire - PA00089998 - 065.jpg, Jesus is arrested whilst Judas stands holding the purse. File:Guimiliau - Enclos paroissial - le calvaire - PA00089998 - 075.jpg, The circumcision File:Guimiliau - Enclos paroissial - le calvaire - PA00089998 - 085.jpg, Jesus is tied to a column and mocked and ridiculed. File:Guimiliau - Enclos paroissial - le calvaire - PA00089998 - 127.jpg, The mouth of Hell

References

External links

* https://web.archive.org/web/20150212191102/http://www.7calvaires.fr/guimiliau.htm Website covering 7 of the Breton calvaries. {{coord missing, France 1588 establishments in France Religious buildings and structures completed in 1588

Buildings and structures in Finistère