Le portail du XIIe siècle de Saint-Germain-des-Prés à Paris: état de la question et nouvelles recherches

Abstract

This article is about the state of research of the west portal of Saint-Germain-des-Prés in Paris. In the course of restoration work on the western tower and portal, the back side of the mid-twelfth-century lintel of the west portal was uncovered. The newly revealed face shows a first version of the lintel subject, The Last Supper, which was abandoned during the early stages of carving. This unfinished scene is one of the rare examples of early Gothic sculpture that reveals several stages of carving a relief. Much less finished than the "Crosby relief" at Saint-Denis, the back face of the Saint Germain-des-Prés lintel is an invaluable record of several of the early stages of execution, ranging from the simplest outline on the surface to nearly complete figures. This exciting new discovery provides the occasion for examining all of the documentation concerning the portal including the lost statue-columns.