Triple window

Physical description

[Component] block from pier A
[Voussoir] voussoir from arch C
[Component] block from pier D
[Component] block forming part of tympanum B
[Voussoir] voussoir from arch C
[Column] Column from centre arch
[Voussoir] voussoir from arch B
[Voussoir] voussoir from arch B
[Component] block forming part of tympanum B
[Component] block forming part of tympanum A
[Component] block forming part of tympanum A
[Component] block forming part of tympanum B
[Component] block forming part of tympanum A
[Voussoir] voussoir from arch A
[Component] block from pier A
[Component] block from pier A
[Component] block forming part of tympanum C
[Impost] impost from pier B
[Column] column from first arch
[Component] block from pier D
[Impost] impost from pier D
[Component] block forming part of tympanum A
[Component] block forming part of tympanum A
[Component] block forming part of pier B
[base] judging by the weight probably a portion of the base
[Tympanum] main block forming tympanum C, carved with two pointed arches of ornament
[Voussoir] voussoir from arch B
[Impost] impost from pier A
[Voussoir] voussoir forming arches A and B
[Component] block forming part of pier B
[Capital] capital for the central column of arch C
[Voussoir] voussoir from arch A
[Component] block forming part of pier A
[Component] block forming part of pier D
[Component] block forming part of pier C
[Voussoir] voussoir from arch B
[Voussoir] voussoir from arch A
[Voussoir] voussoir from arch B
[Voussoir] voussoir from arch C
[Springer] springer for arch A
[Component] block forming part of pier A
[Voussoir] voussoir from arch B
[Voussoir] voussoir from arch B
[Component] block forming part of pier C
[Impost] impost from pier C
[Component] block forming part of tympanum A
[Component] block forming part of pier A
[Component] block forming part of tympanum A
[Component] block forming part of tympanum B
[Component] block forming part of tympanum A
[Capital] capital for the central column of arch B
[Component] block forming part of pier A
[Impost] impost from pier D
[Component] block forming part of pier D
[Component] block forming part of pier D
[Component] block forming part of tympanum B
[Component] block forming part of pier B
[Component] block forming part of pier A
[Component] block forming part of pier B
[Component] block forming part of pier C
[Component] block forming part of tympanum B
[Tympanum] main block forming tympanum B, carved with two pointed arches of ornament
[Base] judging by the weight one of the 9 base portions
[Tympanum] main block forming tympanum A, carved with two pointed arches of ornament
[Component] block forming part of pier A
[Column base] base from the column in front of pier D
[Component] block from pier C
[Component] block from pier B
[Component] block from pier B
[Voussoir] voussoir from arch C
[Springer] springer for arches B and C
[Voussoir] voussoir from arch B
[Component] block from pier C
[Voussoir] voussoir from arch A
[Voussoir] voussoir from arch B
[Component] block from pier B
[Component] block from pier D
[Component] block from pier C
[Component] block from pier A
[Component] block from pier B
[Component] block from pier B
[Voussoir] Voussoir from arch A
[Component] block from pier A
[Column] Column from the front of pier A
[Column] Column from the front of pier C
[Column] Column from the front of pier D
[Column] probably column from the front of pier B
[Column] second portion of Column from the front of pier C
[Column] column from the first arch?
[Column] column from the centre arch?
[Column] column from third arch?
[base] Judging by the weight, one of the 9 portions of the base
[Component] block forming part of tympanum B
[Voussoir] voussoir from arch C
[Springer] springer for arch C
[Springer] springer for arch A
[Component] block forming part of pier D
[Component] block forming part of pier D
[Component] block forming part of pier D
[Component] probably PB5, block forming part of pier B
[Component] block forming part of pier C
[Component] block forming part of tympanum C
[Component] block forming part of pier C
[Component] block forming part of pier B
[Component] relationship to main structure unknown
[Component] block forming part of tympanum A
[Component] block forming part of pier C
[Impost] impost from pier B
[Base] judging by weight probably one of the 9 base sections
[Voussoir] voussoir from arch A
[Component] block forming part of pier D
[Component] block forming part of pier C
[Component] block forming part of pier C
[Impost] impost from pier C
[Component] block forming part of pier D
[Voussoir] voussoir from arch B
[Voussoir] voussoir from arch C
[Column base] base for column C
[Component] block forming part of pier A
[Column] column for third arch
[base] judging by the weight probably a portion of the base
[base] judging by the weight probably a portion of the base
[Voussoir] voussoir from arch B
[Voussoir] voussoir from arch C
[Component] block forming part of pier B
[Component] block forming part of pier B
[Component] block forming part of pier A
[Component] block forming part of pier C
[Component] block forming part of pier C
[Component] block forming part of tympanum B
[Component] block forming part of tympanum B
[Component] block forming part of pier A
[Component] block forming part of pier C
[Column base] base for column B
[Component] block from pier B
[Voussoir] voussoir from arch C
[Component] block forming part of tympanum C
[Voussoir] voussoir from arch A
[Voussoir] voussoir from arch A
[base] judging by the weight probably a portion of the base
[Voussoir] voussoir from arch A
[Component] block forming part of pier D
[Impost] impost from pier C
[Voussoir] voussoir from arch C
[Voussoir] voussoir from arch C
[Voussoir] voussoir from arch A
[Base] judging by the weight probably a portion of the base
[Base] judging by the weight probably a portion of the base

Place of Origin

France (north, made)

Date

ca. 1175-1200 (made)

Artist/maker

Unknown (production)

Materials and Techniques

Carved limestone

Marks and inscriptions

[Component] marked 'PA3'
[Voussoir] marked 'C7'
[Component] marked 'PD10'
[Component] marked 'B19'
[Voussoir] marked 'C1'
[Column] marked 'COL2'
[Voussoir] marked 'B1'
[Voussoir] marked 'B4'
[Component] marked 'B14'
[Component] marked 'A23'
[Component] marked 'A21'
[Component] marked 'B21'
[Component] marked 'A22'
[Voussoir] marked 'A3'
[Component] marked 'PA13'
[Component] marked 'PA6'
[Component] marked 'C12'
[Impost] marked 'PB1'
[Column] marked 'COL.1'
[Component] marked 'PD12'
[Impost] marked 'PD1'
[Component] marked 'A17'
[Component] marked 'A20'
[Component] marked 'PB14'
[base] marked 'B9'
[Tympanum] marked 'C'
[Voussoir] marked 'B6'
[Impost] marked 'PA1'
[Voussoir] marked 'A12'
[Component] marked 'PB13'
[Capital] marked 'CAP C'
[Voussoir] marked 'A10'
[Component] marked 'PA8'
[Component] marked 'PD9'
[Component] marked 'PC9'
[Voussoir] marked 'B5'
[Voussoir] marked 'A11'
[Voussoir] marked 'B9'
[Voussoir] marked 'C2'
[Springer] marked 'A1'
[Component] marked 'PA9'
[Voussoir] marked 'B3'
[Voussoir] marked 'B7'
[Component] marked 'PC17'
[Impost] marked 'PC1'
[Component] marked 'A14'
[Component] marked 'PA5'
[Component] marked 'A18'
[Component] marked 'B12'
[Component] marked 'A16'
[Capital] marked 'CAP B'
[Component] marked 'PA15'
[Impost] marked 'PD2'
[Component] marked 'PD11'
[Component] marked 'PD6'
[Component] marked 'B15'
[Component] marked 'PB4'
[Component] marked 'PA14'
[Component] marked 'PB10'
[Component] marked 'PC5'
[Component] marked 'B17'
[Tympanum] marked 'B'
[Base] marked 'B4'
[Tympanum] marked 'A'
[Component] marked 'PA4'
[Column base] marked 'COL BASE D'
[Component] marked 'PC14'
[Component] marked 'PB7'
[Component] marked 'PB12'
[Voussoir] marked 'C8'
[Springer] marked 'B11'
[Component] marked 'NO/NUM'
[Voussoir] marked 'B8'
[Component] marked 'PC4'
[Voussoir] marked 'A8'
[Voussoir] marked 'B3'
[Component] marked 'PB11'
[Component] marked 'PD8'
[Component] marked 'PC8'
[Component] marked 'PA7'
[Component] marked 'PB17'
[Component] marked 'PB6'
[Voussoir] marked 'A6'
[Component] marked 'PA10'
[Column] marked 'COL A'
[Column] marked 'COL C IN TWO PARTS'
[Column] marked 'COL D'
[Column] marked 'COL NO/NUM'
[Column] marked 'COL C IN TWO PARTS'
[Column] marked 'COLL I'
[Column] marked 'COLL II'
[Column] marked 'COLL III'
[base] marked 'B 5'
[Component] marked 'B13'
[Voussoir] marked 'C9'
[Springer] marked 'C11'
[Springer] marked 'A13'
[Component] marked 'PD13'
[Component] marked 'PD4'
[Component] marked 'PD5'
[Component] marked 'P5'
[Component] marked 'PC16'
[Component] marked 'C14'
[Component] marked 'PC7'
[Component] marked 'PB8'
[Component] marked 'LINTEL'
[Component] marked 'A15'
[Component] marked 'PC6'
[Impost] marked 'PB2'
[Base] marked 'NO/NUM'
[Voussoir] marked 'A5'
[Component] marked 'PD7'
[Component] marked 'PC11'
[Component] marked 'PC10'
[Impost] marked 'PC3'
[Component] marked 'PD14'
[Voussoir] marked 'B10'
[Voussoir] marked 'C3'
[Column base] marked 'COL C BASE'
[Component] marked 'PA10'
[Column] marked 'COLUMN 3'
[base] marked 'NO/NUM'
[base] marked 'B 6'
[Voussoir] marked 'B2'
[Voussoir] marked 'C4'
[Component] marked 'NO/NUM'
[Component] marked 'PB15'
[Component] marked 'PB16'
[Component] marked 'PA12'
[Component] marked 'PC15'
[Component] marked 'PC13'
[Component] marked 'B18'
[Component] marked 'B16'
[Component] marked 'PA11'
[Component] marked 'PC12'
[Column base] marked 'COL B BASE'
[Component] marked 'PB9'
[Voussoir] marked 'C10'
[Component] marked 'C13'
[Voussoir] marked 'A4'
[Voussoir] marked 'A2'
[base] marked 'NO/NUM'
[Voussoir] marked 'A7'
[Component] marked 'PD3'
[Impost] marked 'PC2'
[Voussoir] marked 'C5'
[Voussoir] marked 'C6'
[Voussoir] marked 'A9'
[Base] marked 'NO NUM'
[Base] marked 'NO NUM'

Dimensions

Weight: 5381 kg, Weight: 5424 kg including stone base
[Component] Weight: 58 kg
[Voussoir] Weight: 39 kg
[Component] Weight: 27 kg
[Component] Weight: 6 kg
[Voussoir] Weight: 37 kg
[Column] Weight: 13.5 kg
[Voussoir] Weight: 46 kg
[Voussoir] Weight: 26.5 kg
[Component] Weight: 5.5 kg
[Component] Weight: 4.5 kg
[Component] Weight: 4.4 kg
[Component] Weight: 4.5 kg
[Component] Weight: 1.5 kg
[Voussoir] Weight: 45 kg
[Component] Weight: 17.5 kg
[Component] Weight: 25 kg
[Component] Weight: 15.5 kg
[Impost] Weight: 16 kg
[Column] Weight: 14 kg
[Component] Weight: 23 kg
[Impost] Weight: 20 kg
[Component] Weight: 16 kg
[Component] Weight: 7 kg
[Component] Weight: 19 kg
[base] Weight: 106.5 kg
[Tympanum] Weight: 215 kg
[Voussoir] Weight: 25 kg
[Impost] Weight: 25 kg
[Voussoir] Weight: 40 kg
[Component] Weight: 22 kg
[Capital] Weight: 54 kg
[Voussoir] Weight: 25 kg
[Component] Weight: 38 kg
[Component] Weight: 37 kg
[Component] Weight: 32 kg
[Voussoir] Weight: 31 kg
[Voussoir] Weight: 22 kg
[Voussoir] Weight: 40 kg
[Voussoir] Weight: 30 kg
[Springer] Weight: 36 kg
[Component] Weight: 26 kg
[Voussoir] Weight: 31 kg
[Voussoir] Weight: 33.5 kg
[Component] Weight: 23 kg
[Impost] Weight: 19 kg
[Component] Weight: 10 kg
[Component] Weight: 23 kg
[Component] Weight: 16 kg
[Component] Weight: 7 kg
[Component] Weight: 14 kg
[Capital] Weight: 50 kg
[Component] Weight: 38 kg
[Impost] Weight: 28 kg
[Component] Weight: 36 kg
[Component] Weight: 34 kg
[Component] Weight: 12 kg
[Component] Weight: 25 kg
[Component] Weight: 31.5 kg
[Component] Weight: 30 kg
[Component] Weight: 19.5 kg
[Component] Weight: 16.5 kg
[Tympanum] Weight: 180 kg
[Base] Weight: 192 kg
[Tympanum] Weight: 160.5 kg
[Component] Weight: 31 kg
[Column base] Weight: 41 kg
[Component] Weight: 21 kg
[Component] Weight: 32 kg
[Component] Weight: 31 kg
[Voussoir] Weight: 31 kg
[Springer] Weight: 32 kg
[Component] Weight: 25 kg
[Voussoir] Weight: 28 kg
[Component] Weight: 25 kg
[Voussoir] Weight: 24 kg
[Voussoir] Weight: 19 kg
[Component] Weight: 32 kg
[Component] Weight: 26 kg
[Component] Weight: 26 kg
[Component] Weight: 35 kg
[Component] Weight: 23 kg
[Component] Weight: 32 kg
[Voussoir] Weight: 22 kg
[Component] Weight: 31 kg
[Column] Weight: 28 kg
[Column] Weight: 12.5 kg
[Column] Weight: 26.5 kg
[Column] Weight: 29.5 kg
[Column] Weight: 6 kg
[Column] Weight: 56.5k kg
[Column] Weight: 57.5 kg
[Column] Weight: 59.5 kg
[base] Weight: 210.5 kg
[Component] Weight: 13.5 kg
[Voussoir] Weight: 39.5 kg
[Springer] Weight: 49 kg
[Springer] Weight: 38.5 kg
[Component] Weight: 18 kg
[Component] Weight: 25 kg
[Component] Weight: 25 kg
[Component] Weight: 24 kg
[Component] Weight: 25 kg
[Component] Weight: 12 kg
[Component] Weight: 27 kg
[Component] Weight: 31 kg
[Component] Weight: 27 kg
[Component] Weight: 19 kg
[Component] Weight: 27 kg
[Impost] Weight: 36 kg
[Base] Weight: 200 kg
[Voussoir] Weight: 39 kg
[Component] Weight: 26 kg
[Component] Weight: 27 kg
[Component] Weight: 26 kg
[Impost] Weight: 15 kg
[Component] Weight: 22 kg
[Voussoir] Weight: 39 kg
[Voussoir] Weight: 35 kg
[Column base] Weight: 21 kg
[Component] Weight: 19.5 kg
[Column] Weight: 13.5 kg
[base] Weight: 111 kg
[base] Weight: 79 kg
[Voussoir] Weight: 29 kg
[Voussoir] Weight: 19 kg
[Component] Weight: 19.5 kg
[Component] Weight: 21 kg
[Component] Weight: 22 kg
[Component] Weight: 29 kg
[Component] Weight: 18.5 kg
[Component] Weight: 22.5 kg
[Component] Weight: 11.5 kg
[Component] Weight: 16.5 kg
[Component] Weight: 28 kg
[Component] Weight: 32 kg
[Column base] Weight: 20 kg
[Component] Weight: 24 kg
[Voussoir] Weight: 34 kg
[Component] Weight: 22 kg
[Voussoir] Weight: 30 kg
[Voussoir] Weight: 30 kg
[base] Weight: 116.5 kg
[Voussoir] Weight: 28 kg
[Component] Weight: 42 kg
[Impost] Weight: 34 kg
[Voussoir] Weight: 31 kg
[Voussoir] Weight: 21 kg
[Voussoir] Weight: 26 kg
[Base] Weight: 100 kg
[Base] Weight: 101 kg

Object history note

These windows come from a house at Trie-Château, near Gisors, about 30 km from Beauvais, France. They were discovered in 1936 during the demolition of an old house close to the church of Trie-Château. M. Seligmann acquired them shortly after and sold them to the V&A. Examples of secular architecture from this period are rare (for other surviving examples see P. Williamson, 'Catalogue of Romanesque Sculpture', V&A publication, London, 1983, p. 42).

The windows consist of a series of three arched openings which are supported on columns. These columns are topped with decorated, foliate capitals. In each arch is a tympanum with two small pointed arches carved in relief, within which are carvings of mythological beasts. On the far right is a centaur engaging in combat with a cockatrice (also known as a basilisk). A cockatrice is a fabulous reptile-bird hatched by a serpent from a cock's egg. The centaur is about to launch an arrow from his short-bow at the cockatrice, which will be his last chance at survival, before the cockatrice blasts him with its deadly stare and breath. The centaur is depicted wearing a 'Phrygian' cap of the sort worn by peasants, but also, interestingly, archers and light infantry or levied militiamen across Europe during this period. Limestone was used for the windows, an ideal and strong stone for detailed work, and also good for polishing, which was very widely used by sculptors during this period for both secular and eccesiastical work.

Limestone is composed mainly of calcium carbonate, much of it sedimentary and formed by fossil deposits. The next three reliefs, going to the left, are of sirens eating men, while the last two on the left-end seem to show men devoured by some sort of sea-monster.

Historical context note

The carving of the reliefs seen here is classsic Romanesque: the subject-matter is imaginative, surreal, and the quirky sense of humour is still alive here in the sculptor's work that characterizes earlier medieval carving. The work is busy and highly-stylized. Although individual reliefs are full and crowded considerable space around the carving is left unworked and plain - this is just what we would expect of Romanesque architectual sculpture, just as it is no surprise to see busy reliefs here edged with simple unfussy surrounds decorated with non-figuarative designs like chevrons repeating between incised lines. Hair, eyes and facial details are etched into the surface of the stone, almost in the manner of drawing, rather than bringing features out of the stone in full three-dimensional carving, which begins to gain favour from the end of the era we know as Romanesque.

Descriptive line

A triple window carved in limestone from a house at Trie-Château, near Gisors, Northern France, ca. 1175-1200

Bibliographic References (Citation, Note/Abstract, NAL no)

P. Williamson, Catalogue of Romanesque Sculpture, Victoria and Albert Museum, London, 1983, cat. no. 19
Catalogue entry, with b&w photo, and also close up details of two of the smaller reliefs.
de l'Eglise, Marquis F, 'Sculptures romanes récemment découvertes à Trie Château' in Mémoires de la Société Historique et Archéologique de l'Arrondissement de Portaise et du Vexin XLVII, 1938, pp.165-67.
Henwood-Reverdot, A. L'église Saint-Etienne de Beauvais. Beauvais, 1982, p.153.
cf. Novelles Acquisitions du Département des Sculptures, 1980-1983 Musée du Louvre, Paris, 1984, cat. no. 2, pp.16-17.
Williams, J.P. Sculptures médiévales du Musée Carnavlet. paris, 1979, pl. 1, p.13.

Materials

Limestone

Techniques

Carving

Subjects depicted

Arches; Mythological beasts; Centaurs; Tympana

Categories

Sculpture; Architecture

Collection code

SCP