Romanesque Art and Symbolism: The Church of La Gripperie Saint-symphorien

The Romanesque façade of the Church at La Gripperie Saint-Symphorien. 

(Photo by the author – Copyright Francois Hagnere)

ROMANESQUE ART AND SYMBOLISM: THE CHURCH OF LA GRIPPERIE SAINT-SYMPHORIEN

 Driving through the marshes, we suddenly reached the skirt of a wood. Here in the meadow was erected a gem of the Romanesque Art in Saintonge. A miraculous fountain where pilgrims used to come on August, 22, gave the church of La Gripperie Saint-Symphorien its reputation. The XIIth century parts and décor really are noteworthy. The magnificent portal offers 3 arch-mouldings, finely carved with a strange series of telamones, three of them holding musical instruments, the Fairy Mélusine (symbolizing the telluric forces) and delicate phoenix and foliages. You will be amazed to discover such intact sculpture teeming with details. Above the portal is found a high and narrow window whose imposts extend on the sides with a cornice and modillions full of expression. A group of 2 statues is present on the left side of the window archivolt. The pleats and foldings of these 2 lively figures (The Visitation) truly are interesting and so representative of the period. The window arch-moulding is decorated with the figures of the Virtues and Vices.  Above the portal, at left, on a plain surface and at a certain height, a slightly bending small head welcomes  the visitor. This is “Jean du Cognot” (John on the corner), a typical fancy the Romanesque Era sculptors loved to add to their works and which can be observed in many Romanesque churches and cathedrals. At certains hours and dates, the light and shadow on this relief seem to represent  the Sphinx of Guizeh with his klaft.

 Two large buttresses were added to the façade in the XVth century. The cylindical steeple tower rests on a square basis, like a mandala whose meaning is the Earth in the center of the universe. It also belongs to the XVth century and is quite unusual. It is covered with grey slate. On the North side of the church, the head of an Indian with feathers and long ears, alone on the wall at 4 meters high, looks towards the miraculous fountain on the hilltop. Saint-Symphorien, the young martyr of Autun in Burgundy is everywhere associated to spring waters.  

 The inside of the church is Gothic . The transept offers an octogonal cupola supporting the steeple. The church was listed only in 1995.

The Portal with the telamones supporting the arch-moulding and symbolic sculptures. Photo by the author – Copyright: Francois Hagnere.  

The window above the portal with the lively group of the Visitation and finely carved figures of the arch-moulding. Photo by the author – Copyright Francois Hagnere.

The small head of “Jean du Cognot” welcoming the visitor. Photo by the author. Copyright: Francois Hagnere. 

The unusual steeple tower. Photo by the author – Copyright: Francois Hagnere.

The Indian head with feathers and long ears looking towards the miraculous fountain. Photo by the author – Copyright: Francois Hagnere.