Sarcophagus of Walter of Pontoise
The sarcophagus of Walter von Pontoise is a 12th century sarcophagus that is now in the Notre-Dame church in Pontoise , a municipality north-west of the French capital Paris . The sarcophagus is a protected cultural monument .
history
The limestone sarcophagus originally contained the remains of Walter von Pontoise, who was canonized in 1153. Walter was the first abbot of Saint-Martin in Pontoise, a monastery that was destroyed during the French Revolution . On the occasion of the canonization of Walter von Pontoise, the sarcophagus was made and placed in the church of the Saint-Martin monastery. After the French Revolution, it came to the Notre-Dame church and was thus preserved for posterity.
description
The sarcophagus is created like a reliquary . That is why he has four transparent lead glass windows in the shape of four passports so that the pilgrims could see the relic. The sculpted figures on the two long sides represent the Three Kings and the abbots or bishops who contributed to the canonization of Walter von Pontoise. The life-size figure of the saint with an abbot's staff on top is framed by four incense-waving angels. A dragon lies at his feet .
literature
- Le Patrimoine des communes du Val-d'Oise. Flohic éditions, Volume 2, Paris 1999, ISBN 2-84234-056-6 , p. 723.
Web links
- Sarcophagus of Walter von Pontoise in the Base Mérimée of the French Ministry of Culture (French)