La réinvention de Conques "romane" : patrimoine national ou exaltation de la vraie foi?
| Title in English | The reinvention of "Romanesque" Conques : national heritage or exaltation of true faith? |
|---|---|
| Authors | |
| Year of publication | 2023 |
| Type | Chapter of a book |
| MU Faculty or unit | |
| Citation | |
| Description | The extensive nineteenth-century restorations of the Abbey Church of Sainte-Foy in Conques are a well-ex- plored phenomenon, notably thanks to Xavier Barral i Altet’s studies. However, several questions surround the invention of the “medieval” image of Conques and deserve further investigation. This concerns, in particular, the understanding of the aesthetic and intellectual choices of the actors who committed themselves to safe- guarding this jewel of European heritage while transforming it into an iconic edifice of “Romanesque” France. The present paper reconsiders the two main periods of the Abbey’s transformation during the nineteenth century. The first, under Prosper Mérimée (1803–1870), of preservation. The second, under Jean-Camille Formigé (1845–1926), of radical restoration. This second phase is a reinvention not only of the building, but also, together with the reborn religious community, of the treasure and cult of a late antique martyr – Sainte Foy. Such a revival must be reassessed against the backdrop of Catholic France in search of a new identity in the years of the First Vatican Council (1869-1870) and the Third Republic. |
| Related projects: |