Did we all grow up with the French nursery song "On the bridge of Avignon"? Curious how songs transcend national boundaries and now I am curious about this one.
The bridge is named Pont St. Benezet, built between 1177 and 1185. Construction began when (pastor) Benedict the Bridge Builder was told in three visions to get the Rhone spanned at any cost.
The Palais des Papes was built during the 14th century as a fortified palace for the Pope & his court, like the Vatican in Rome today.
The cavernous stone halls and extensive grounds testify to the enormous wealth amassed by the papacy during the time in Avignon. Pope Clement V fled political turmoil in Rome; from 1309 to 1377 seven French-born popes based themselves here.
Pope Gregory XI left Avignon in 1376, but his death shortly afterward led to the Great Schism (1378-1417) during which rival popes - up to three at one time - spent most of their energies denouncing and excommunicating one another.
Housed in the elegant Hotel de Ville-Bruce-Martignan (1741-54), Musée Calvet has an impressive collection of artifacts as well as paintings from between the 16th and 20th centuries.
This artist was painting along with two others in the Musée Calvet.
The next four photos are of some of my favorite paintings in the Calvet.
Les arènes de Nîmes 1927 by August Chabaud, born in Nîmes 1882-1955.
In this 'Adoration of the three Kings', I found this king interesting.
L'Adoration des Mages, D'après Hieronymous Bosch 1454-1516.
Intérieur d'église avec personnages, 1614, by Hendrick van Steenwijck
1580-1649
This was considered the masterpiece of the collection by the Musée 's curator.
Vue d'un village au clair de lune by Aert Vanderbilt Ne'er 1603-1677.
Stèle funéraire de Glykon et de sa mère Tateis.
We saw this beautiful relief in the Musée Lapidaire. They had a random collection of Egyptian, Roman, Etruscan and early Christian pieces ranging from marble statuary and hieroglyphics to delicate vases.
The Musée Lapidaire is inside an old Jesuit Church.
Avignon's most interesting architecture is within the roughly oval walled city which is surrounded by ramparts built between 1359-1370.
Even in the 14th century this defense system was hardly state-of-the-art; nonetheless, those ramparts are the nicest I've ever seen.
The first and last picture of this post are great--the Rhone seems so still and inviting in your rendition! I like the painting showing the bridge incomplete. You'll have to sing this song for us next time we see each other. I don't know if I know it!
ReplyDeleteLeave it to Hieronymous Bosch to make you pause...!