Collection of sculptures from Notre-Dame-en-Vaux in Châlons-en-Champagne
About
The cloister of the collegiate church of Notre-Dame-en-Vaux once housed a unique collection of finely carved column-statues depicting scenes from the Old and New Testaments. Built around 1170–1180, they served the canons as objects of contemplation and education, although this fashion, tied to early Gothic art, was short-lived and quickly abandoned during subsequent liturgical reforms.
Severely lacking funds to maintain their cloister in the 18th century, the monks carried out its destruction between 1759 and 1766. The cloister was torn down and the land rebuilt, using the debris for foundations. The cloister and its sculptures fell into oblivion for two centuries and escaped the destruction of the Revolutionary period. Rediscovered in fragments during excavations led by Léon Pressouyre from 1963 to 1976, the statues were reassembled and completed with metaline.
List of works:
Olibrius
King of Antioch and torturer of Saint Margaret
Capital Saint Michael
Historiated capital depicting the Archangel Michael
Column-Statue of the Wedding at Cana
Column-Statue and Capital Depicting the First Miracle of Jesus
Column-Statue of a Knight
Allegorical figure of a knight at attention
Capital of the Four Evangelists
Saint Luke, Saint John, Saint Matthew, and Saint Mark
Column-Statue of Isaac and Abraham
The binding of Isaac
Capital of Saint Margaret
The four faces depict the martyrdom of Saint Margaret.
Column-Statue of Moses
Column-Statue of Moses and Capital with Dragons
Pillar adorned with toruses and fluting
Pillar with five richly decorated columns featuring two figures
Column-Statue representing a King
King of the Old Testament and capitals with birds
Column-statue of the childhood of Saint Nicholas
The fasting of Saint Nicholas
Capital of the Life of Christ
Four stages in the life of Christ