La chapelle du prieuré de la Colombe à Brissac-Quincé (Maine-et-Loire) : une maladrerie médiévale ?

Abstract

Lost in the shadow of the Château de Brissac, the chapel of the priory of La Colombe, situated north of the town, has rarely been considered in studies of Brissacois patrimony. Yet the building has a rich history, with several building campaigns in the Middle Ages. A study of the construction and a close analysis of the sources bearing on the site have clarified the complex architectural history of the building, composed of a large hall under a paneled ceiling and a small vaulted building to the east, considered by historians to be the nave and choir of a chapel. The way in which the two spaces are articulated raises questions about their functional interpretation. The two spaces communicate through a large doorway framed by drip-edge molding and closed by a double door, thus isolating the two parts of the edifice. Our research has led us to propose a new hypothesis concerning the nature of the ensemble and its disposition, which call to mind the layout of several medieval chaplaincies, composed of a large hall for the sick and an adjoining chapel.