Christ?! (No, St John the Baptist!)
Sunday, October 18, 2009 Posted by Eric Tenin
It's Sunday right? So it's Church day (well at least for the Christians...)! Look what I found in Notre Dame Cathedral? A very very unusual Christ isn't it? Well it is not surprising for, unlike what I originally thought, it is not Christ, but Saint John the Baptist. Precisely, I found it on a baptismal font near the entrance of the church. Have a super Sunday everyone (at church or somewhere else ;)) I am currently in the Loire Valley, visiting some chateaux with my friends... Will be back tonight though.
October 18, 2009 12:30:00 AM GMT+02:00
Beautiful!
I was there rather recently and totally missed it. You have such an eye!
October 18, 2009 12:34:00 AM GMT+02:00
It's a delicate statue. All churches I saw in Paris were beautiful.
October 18, 2009 12:36:00 AM GMT+02:00
Very contemporary. Jesus is hip!
October 18, 2009 12:57:00 AM GMT+02:00
Your're in the Loire Valley after Notre Dame? I'm in Scottsdale,AZ watching the cactus grow.
October 18, 2009 1:00:00 AM GMT+02:00
It a beautiful Bronze! Good catch.
October 18, 2009 1:43:00 AM GMT+02:00
it's beautifully stylized......i used to live in chandler, az. and i could never sit down long enough to see those cactus grow!!!......
October 18, 2009 2:18:00 AM GMT+02:00
and, Donna, it's 102 degrees today inPHX...let's go to CDG, asap and join that lucky guy, Eric.
October 18, 2009 2:53:00 AM GMT+02:00
i'm packing my bags now!!!!!!.......it actually got up to 91 here in orange county (ca.)......but you've got us beat heatwise......
October 18, 2009 3:44:00 AM GMT+02:00
This is a very nice photo and a lovely sculpture. However, I believe that this St. John the Baptist, not Christ. He is often depicted wearing an animal skin and as this may be used as a baptismal font it would be appropriate.
October 18, 2009 3:47:00 AM GMT+02:00
Ah, it is a baptismal font - I didn't read it closely enough. I love how the tones in the sculpture are echoed in the tones on the wall. Beautiful.
October 18, 2009 4:24:00 AM GMT+02:00
I think Carrie might be correct. It's a lovely depiction regardless. I have enjoyed featuring the churches of France on Sundays on my Paris blog. They are all so beautiful and just a wonderful place to sit and pray and reflect.
V
October 18, 2009 12:46:00 PM GMT+02:00
Like Virginia, I think Carrie is possibly right... A truly beautiful statue. I just sent an email with the question to the Notre Dame home page... let's see if they answer.
October 18, 2009 12:50:00 PM GMT+02:00
I do agree with Carrie, it's certainly St John the Baptist!
Enjoy the Loire Valley! You know it's an area I'm particularly found of ;-)
October 18, 2009 12:54:00 PM GMT+02:00
This looks like a lady. Everything from the trendy drapey dress - a real red carpet effort - to the shapely legs and the pose. Looks like one arm is straight down by the side; a well known paparazzi pose to lengthen the body and slimline the line lol. Is the other hand puffing the hair into place?
What an odd sculpture for this setting; I like it though!
October 18, 2009 12:55:00 PM GMT+02:00
Er...I'm ignoring the beard.
October 18, 2009 8:14:00 PM GMT+02:00
I'm sure Carrie is right about this being St. John the Baptist. All the times I've been in this church, I don't recall ever seeing this—time to go back and look for him. Hope you had a lovely time in the Loire Valley, Eric.
October 18, 2009 10:55:00 PM GMT+02:00
Ooops! Yes Carrie, you are probably right... Sorry for that. I took for granted that it was the Christ as I could not find any sign about this statue nearby its location...
I'm just back from the Loire Valley (Yes Thib, I understand why you're fond of it!) it had been a long time since I last went there and, well, it's really superb.
People, there is more than Paris to visit when you come to France!
October 19, 2009 8:55:00 PM GMT+02:00
I love the Loire too, having spent some time there years ago too Eric!