| Church of St. Trophime Cathédrale Saint-Trophime d'Arles | |
|---|---|
 Portal of Church of Saint Trophime | |
| Religion | |
| Affiliation | Roman Catholic Church |
| Province | Archdiocese of Aix |
| Rite | Roman Rite |
| Ecclesiastical or organizational status | Cathedral |
| Patron | Trophimus of Arles |
| Status | Active |
| Location | |
| Location | Arles, France |
 Interactive map of Church of St. Trophime Cathédrale Saint-Trophime d'Arles | |
| Coordinates | 43°40′36″N4°37′41″E / 43.67667°N 4.62806°E /43.67667; 4.62806 |
| Architecture | |
| Type | Church |
| Groundbreaking | 12th century |
| Completed | 15th century |
| Official name:Arles, Roman and Romanesque Monuments | |
| Type | Cultural |
| Criteria | ii, iv |
| Designated | 1981 (5thsession) |
| Reference no. | 164 |
| Region | Europe and North America |
TheChurch of St. Trophime (French:Cathédrale Saint-Trophime d'Arles;Occitan:Catedrala Sant-Trofime d'Arle) (Trophimus) is aRoman Catholicchurch and formercathedral located in the city ofArles, in theBouches-du-Rhône Department of southernFrance. It was built between the 12th century and the 15th century, and is in theRomanesque architectural tradition. The sculptures over the church's portal, particularly theLast Judgement, and the columns in the adjacent cloister, are considered some of the finest examples ofRomanesque sculpture.
The church was built upon the site of the 5th-centurybasilica of Arles, named forSt. Stephen.[1] In the 15th century a Gothic choir was added to the Romanesque nave.
Along with other medieval and Roman buildings in Arles, in 1981 the church was designated aUNESCOWorld Heritage Site as part of theArles, Roman and Romanesque Monuments group.[2]
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At the time the cathedral was built, in the late 11th century or early 12th century, Arles was the second-largest city inProvence, with a population of between 15,000 and 20,000 people. It had a busy port on theRhône, and two new cities, on either side of the old Roman town, surrounded by a wall. It was at least formally independent as theKingdom of Burgundy-Arles, and it had attracted many religious orders, including theKnights Hospitalier, theKnights Templar andmendicant orders, which had built a number of churches within the town.[4]
Theapse and thetransept were probably built first, in the late 11th century, and thenave and bell tower were completed in the second quarter of the 12th century.[5] The Romanesque church had a long central nave 20 meters high; lower collateral aisles on either side; a transept supporting the square central bell tower; and a chevet behind the altar at the east end with a hemispherical vault. The windows are small and high up on the nave, above the level of the collateral aisles.
Though mainly notable for its outstanding Romanesque architecture and sculpture, the church contains rich groups of art from other periods. These include several important carved Late Romansarcophagi, reliquaries from various periods, and Baroque paintings, with three byLouis Finson.Trophime Bigot is also represented, and there are several Baroque tapestries, including a set of ten on theLife of the Virgin. The church has been used to hold items originally from other churches or religious houses in the region that were dispersed in the French Revolution or at other times.
The west portal is one of the treasures ofRomanesque sculpture, presenting the story of theApocalypse according toSt. John, and theGospel ofSt. Matthew. Christ is seated in majesty in the tympanum, with thesymbols of the Evangelists around him; according to themost common interpretation, they are the man of St. Matthew, the lion of St. Mark, the ox of St. Luke, and the eagle of St. John. TheApostles are seated below him. To the left of the portal, a procession of chosen Christians is going to heaven, while to the right sinners are being cast into hell.
The decoration of the portal also includes a multitude of Biblical scenes; theAnnunciation; theBaptism of Christ; theAdoration of the Magi, the Magi beforeHerod; theMassacre of the Innocents; shepherds with their flocks.
On the lower level, separated by pilasters and columns of dark stone, are statues of saints connected with the history of Arles; on the left,St. Bartholomew,St. James the Great,St. Trophimus,St. John the Evangelist, andSt. Peter; and on the right,St. Philip,St. James the Just,St. Stephen,St. Andrew, andSt. Paul.
The bases of the columns beside the portal are decorated with statues of lions,Samson andDelilah, and Samson and the Lion.[6]
The cloister was constructed in the second half of the 12th century and the first half of the 13th century.[5] for the use of theCanons, the priests who attended the bishop and managed the church property. Under a reform instituted byPope Gregory, the Canons were required to live like monks, with a common dormitory, refectory and cloister within the cathedral enclosure, separated by a wall from the city.
The refectory, or dining hall, was built first, next to the church, along with a chapter house, or meeting room, for the canons. The dormitory for the canons, a large vaulted room on the east side of the cloister, was built next. Work on the cloister began with the northern gallery, then the eastern gallery, which were finished around 1210–1220. Then work suddenly stopped.
Soon after the construction of the east and west galleries, the city began to decline. TheCounts of Provence moved from Arles toAix, the center of church authority moved to the papal palace inAvignon, and in 1251Charles of Anjou suppressed the movement of the leaders of Arles for more independence. In 1348, TheBlack Death drastically reduced the population of all of Provence.
The southern and western galleries of the cloister were not built until the 1380s and 1390s, and they were built in a different style, theGothic style favored by the Popes inAvignon, with cross-ribbed vaults.
In 1355, the canons gave up living in the dormitory, and moved to houses within the cathedral close. The dormitory, refectory and chapter house were turned into granaries and storehouses.
The northern gallery, built in the second quarter of the 12th century, is purely Romanesque, with a barrel vault ceiling. The carvings of the columns capitals are devoted to the Easter Mystery and to the glorification of the patron saints of Arles. The relationships between the figures on the pillars and the capitals of the columns show the relationships between the Old and New Testaments, a theme introduced in Paris bySuger, the abbot ofSaint Denis.
The first corner pillar in the northern gallery is devoted to St. Trophime, the patron saint Arles, between the figures ofSaint Peter andSaint John. The bas-relief on the walls show the Christ's empty tomb on Easter morning. The capitals of the columns depictLazarus coming out of his tomb betweenMartha andMary;Abraham about to sacrifice his son; andBalaam on his ass being stopped by a sword-wielding angel.
The next three columns showSt. Stephen being stoned, combined with a portrait ofSt. Paul; Christ encountering the disciples, shown as pilgrims on their way toCompostela, atEmaus; and Christ showing his wounds to the unbelievingThomas.
The capitals between the columns show three Angels appearing toAbraham; and St. Paul addressingAreopagus of Athens.
The only illustrated capital in the last bay showsMoses meeting God before the burning bush. The Resurrection story concludes on the northeast corner pillar with theAscension of Jesus, next to the figures of Saint Paul and St. Andrew on either side of St. Stephen.
The Eastern Gallery, built the late 12th or early 13th century, has some Gothic features, including figures in the quoins of wise virgins and foolish virgins and the symbols of theFour Evangelists. ThePassion story is told on the pillars, while the life of Christ is depicted on the carved capitals.
The scenes of Christ's childhood can be are read on the capitals from north to south; theAnnunciation, theVisitation and theNativity on the first capital; the next capital shows the coat of arms of Arles and an eagle with spread wings, the symbol of theHoly Roman Emperor, who at the time ruled Arles; the third capital shows theAnnunciation to the shepherds, with two startled goats climbing theTree of Life.
The pillar in the first bay begins the story of the Passion with the flagellation of Christ. On the opposite side isJudas clutching a purse with thirty pieces of silver.
The capitals in the central bay illustrate the story of theMagi, out of historical order; the successive columns show theMassacre of the Innocents; theFlight into Egypt; the angel appearing to the Magi at the inn; the three wise men before Herod; theAdoration of the Magi, and the angel appearing toJoseph in a dream.
The pillar in the second bay has two statues, probably representing St. John and the Mother Church.
The capitals in the third bay illustrate the entry of Christ intoJerusalem,Palm Sunday andPentecost, and a knight striking down an adversary, and then walking over to a lady; possibly representing Constantine defeating paganism and then being thanked by the mother church.
The southern pillar illustrates the Baptism of Christ and the devil tempting Christ, Christ washing the apostles' feet, theLast Supper and the kiss of Judas.
TheSouthern Gallery probably dates to the 1380s or 1390s, and is built in the Gothic style, with pointed arches intersecting vaults resting on colonnettes with foliated capitals.
The capitals in the southern gallery are entirely devoted to the story of St. Trophimus; the first shows St. Trophime blessing the Alyscamps burial ground, and dedicating an oratory to the still-living Virgin Mary; the next four show a miracle performed by the intervention of St. Trophime; he brings back to life a knight and nine of his relatives unjustly sentenced to death by the EmperorCharlemagne for slapping the archbishop Turpin.
TheWestern Gallery probably dates to about 1375, and is devoted to religious figures and scenes popular in Provence; from south to north: the stoning ofSt. Stephen;Samson slaying the lion and yielding toDelilah; SaintMartha and theTarasque;Mary Magdalene kissing Christ's feet; theAnnunciation in a Gothic setting; the Coronation of the Virgin; and thePentecost.
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