As you push open the door of the Church of St Yves in La Roche-Maurice, and step into the gloom your eyes gradually become accustomed to the dim light and you find an exuberant display of colour and carvings – this is a wonderfully restored church, and a delight to visit. It is also a glorious building in which to sit quietly.
The Glory Beam towers above the Rood Screen.
The Rood Screen dates from 1570-80 and carved from oak with fantastical as well as biblical figures, and richly painted.
The stringbeams, sablières, are fascinating. There are scenes from farming life, musicians, gargoyles, and funerals.
And then there are the stained glass windows. The main window behind the high altar is from 1539 and signed by Laurent Le Sodec, although probably made in the workshop and as such produced by a team of people. There is also a suggestion that the windows were copies of engravings in circulation at the time, and these would have included engravings by Dürer. The main centres for the production of stained glass in Brittany were Tréguier, Rennes, and Quimper where the Le Sodec workshop was based. (Fascinating article here on the workshop.)
A magical place…
Further information
The history of the church of St Yves
Robert Staas
We have just taken some friends to see the church because of the spectacular interior details, especially the Rood Screen which is almost unique in Brittany following the Counter Reformation destruction that occurred in many parts of France.
Candy Blackham
Yes, it is amazing. Thank you for visiting my blog and for commenting; I hope you also enjoyed the post