Portal de Periódicos da CAPES

Art et langage

2019; Groupe Flammarion; Volume: N° 205; Issue: 3 Linguagem: Inglês

10.3917/rda.205.0011

1953-812X

Natacha Piano,

The author stems from the impor tance of the correlation between art and environment to propose an analytical grid inspired by the lin guistic relationship between “con text” and “situation”. The aim is to embrace the multi layered com plexity of medieval art, conceived at the crossroads of spirit and mat ter. By applying this method to five frescoes painted in Saint-Sernin in Toulouse in 1119, the analysis exam ines frescos and spaces in order to reveal their degree of participation the process of sense making. The enquiry provides a considerable insight into the dialogue between image and architecture continually nurtured by the rites taking place in the basilica. It highlights the direc tional role of movement in chan neling / materializing the divine presence within the church. And it leads to uncovering a scenographic staging of the three sacred bodies of Saint-Sernin – monastic, canonical and as martyr – intended to secure the independence of the church from the claims of the Bishop of Toulouse.