Page 29 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Brittany

A POR TR AIT OF BRIT T AN Y  27

Flamboyant Gothic Trefoil window
(14th–15th C.)
As an expression of their
political power, the dukes and
noblemen of Brittany funded the
decoration of Gothic churches.
These buildings thus acquired
elegant chapels and finial belfries, Rood screen in the Basilique
carved doorways, wall paintings du Folgoët
and beautiful rose windows.
Quatrefoil tracery
framed by two trefoils.
The Porche du Peuple of the
Cathédrale St-Tugdual in Tréguier Tierce-point arch
features some fine examples of divided into two
14th-century decorative carving. trilobe arches.
Breton Renaissance (16th C.)
The Flamboyant Gothic style was Arches decorated
gradually superseded by a new, with secular motifs.
markedly purer style. Adopted by
architects, metalworkers and Bust of François I
sculptors, the Breton Renaissance set within a
style combined that of the Loire and scallop shell.
that of Italy. In Lower Brittany, the
fashion for parish closes and open
belfries became established. West door of
Figures of the
12 apostles. the Basilique
Notre-Dame-
du-Bon-Secours
Pilaster with
Pediment, in the lozenge decoration. in Guingamp
Baroque style, over (1537–90).
the archway.
Stone wall,
designed to prevent Entrance used
farm animals from at christenings,
entering the weddings, funer -
sacred enclosure. als and other
great occasions.
Detail of the rood screen of the church at
La Roche Maurice
The ceremonial entrance to the
parish close of the Église St-Miliau
in Guimiliau, one of the most
important in northern Finistère.
Baroque (17th C.)
The Counter-Reformation Finials Statue of St Derrien
brought out a taste for flanked by the heads
of two angels.
extravagant church decora-
tion. This took the form Broken
of statues of apostles, pediment
dramatic depictions of the The great porch
Pietà, highly ornate pulpits, (1645–55) of the
Baroque altarpieces and church at Commana,
garlanded columns. There Fluted whose interior
are around 1,300 churches columns furnishings are in an
with such Baroque extravagant Baroque
style, still has many
decoration in Brittany.
Renaissance features.

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