Saint Séverin Church
the Saint Séverin Church is part of Paris , 5ème arrondissement .Top photos chosen by u all:
Paris - Latin Quarter: Église Saint-Séverin - Organ
Made by wallyg
The great rose window in the west façade of Église Saint-Séverin (Church of Saint Severin), showing the Tree of Jesse, is mostly hidden by the large organ, a work of Claude Ferrand in 1745. The carved wooden organ case, as well as the loft with its wrought iron railing, also dates from this time. The central nave forms the largest spatial component of the global volume. The nave walls are opened up, each bay rising to three stories with a middle triforium level and a ring of vast upper windows. This lightened structure becomes an immaterial framework, typical of Gothic style. The stone vaults seem to float in the heights above, resting on crossed ribs that spring from large vertical pillars. Upon closer examination of the nave, elements indicating the phased development of medieval Gothic style become apparent. Near the entrance the first two bays have remained basically untouched since their construction in the early 13th century. The vertical elements consist of sturdy columns topped by a large leafy capital; only above this level does a trio of colonnettes begin rising to the vault. The bays nearer to the choir were rebuilt in the 15th century in the smoothly refined Flamboyant Gothic style. Now the sheaf of ribs rises in a single uninterrupted movement from floor to ceiling where they fan out in a brilliant display. Here the style is marked by dynamism and movement, expressing vital energy, but the design bears the stamp of clarity and precision. The flow of light from the large ring of stained glass windows reinforces the sweeping verticality of the spatial development. Saint-Séverin is dedicated to Séverin, a hermit monk who lived and worshipped on this spot on the Left Bank at the end of the fifth century. After his death, a small basilica was constructed over his tomb, but eventually destroyed by the Vikings. In the 11th century, a Romanesque church was built on the site but by 1200 the small edifice was no longer adequate for the expanding neighborhood. The new Gothic structure was erected at the beginning of the 13th century, consisting of a central nave accompanied by an aisle on both the north and south sides. By the end of that century, the burgeoning university nearby necessiated further expansion, and in the early 14th century a second aisle was added on the south side of the church. During the Hundred Years War and under the English occupation in 1448, a massive fire destroyed three quarters of the structure. In 1452 the archpriest of Saint Séverin Guillaume d'Estouteville, later archbishop of Rouen, undertook rebuilding of the church in the stunning late Gothic flamboyant style, with the addition of a new side aisle on the north. In 1489, the church was lengthened toward the east, and a semi-circular apse now replaced the earlier flat end wall, featuring a double ambulatory marked by the striking progression of columns that culminates in a mysteriously coiled central shaft. At the beginning of the 16th century construction began on the chapels along the outer aisles, once more expanding the size of building to provide additional space. By 1520 this work was completed and Saint Séverin assumed the basic appearance it enjoys today. A second sacristy was constructed in 1643, and in 1673 the royal architect Jules Hardouin-Mansart built the Communion chapel on the southeast outside corner of the church. In 1684 Charles le Brun, decorator of Versailles, undertook modifications in the interior design of the choir, tearing down the rood screen that then separated choir from nave and making other decorative changes, such as marble facing added to the apse columns. This work was financed by Mademoiselle de Montpensier, cousin of the king and member of the Saint Séverin parish. In the 18th century the blind triforium encircling the nave was punched open to be filled with glass, admitting ever more light into the interior. Until 1790 Saint-Séverin was the seat of the southern archdeaconry of the pre-revolutionary diocese of Paris. During the Revolutionary period the Church was closed to worship, the noble structure assigned to store gunpowder and animal feed. Under Napoleon, as anti-religious restrictions were reversed, the church reopened in 1802. Both lateral facades of the church are richly decorated with pinnacles, gargoyles and flying buttresses. The is dominated by an expansive flamboyant rose window. The soaring bell tower dates from the first Gothic construction in the early 1200's; the oldest bell was cast in 1421. The large Gothic portal on the north façade under the bell tower, showing a relief of St. Martin dividing his cloak, was transferred here in the mid-19th century from the church of St-Pierre-aux-boeufs on the Ile de la Cité when it was demolished. Internal highlights include both ancient stained glass and a set of seven modern windows by Jean René Bazaine, inspired by the seven sacraments of the Catholic church; and a deambulatory composed of 10 double spans of pillar-palm trees.
Paris - Latin Quarter: Église Saint-Séverin - The Choir
Made by wallyg
Église Saint-Séverin (Church of Saint Severin) is dedicated to Séverin, a hermit monk who lived and worshipped on this spot on the Left Bank at the end of the fifth century. After his death, a small basilica was constructed over his tomb, but eventually destroyed by the Vikings. In the 11th century, a Romanesque church was built on the site but by 1200 the small edifice was no longer adequate for the expanding neighborhood. The new Gothic structure was erected at the beginning of the 13th century, consisting of a central nave accompanied by an aisle on both the north and south sides. By the end of that century, the burgeoning university nearby necessiated further expansion, and in the early 14th century a second aisle was added on the south side of the church. During the Hundred Years War and under the English occupation in 1448, a massive fire destroyed three quarters of the structure. In 1452 the archpriest of Saint Séverin Guillaume d'Estouteville, later archbishop of Rouen, undertook rebuilding of the church in the stunning late Gothic flamboyant style, with the addition of a new side aisle on the north. In 1489, the church was lengthened toward the east, and a semi-circular apse now replaced the earlier flat end wall, featuring a double ambulatory marked by the striking progression of columns that culminates in a mysteriously coiled central shaft. At the beginning of the 16th century construction began on the chapels along the outer aisles, once more expanding the size of building to provide additional space. By 1520 this work was completed and Saint Séverin assumed the basic appearance it enjoys today. A second sacristy was constructed in 1643, and in 1673 the royal architect Jules Hardouin-Mansart built the Communion chapel on the southeast outside corner of the church. In 1684 Charles le Brun, decorator of Versailles, undertook modifications in the interior design of the choir, tearing down the rood screen that then separated choir from nave and making other decorative changes, such as marble facing added to the apse columns. This work was financed by Mademoiselle de Montpensier, cousin of the king and member of the Saint Séverin parish. In the 18th century the blind triforium encircling the nave was punched open to be filled with glass, admitting ever more light into the interior. Until 1790 Saint-Séverin was the seat of the southern archdeaconry of the pre-revolutionary diocese of Paris. During the Revolutionary period the Church was closed to worship, the noble structure assigned to store gunpowder and animal feed. Under Napoleon, as anti-religious restrictions were reversed, the church reopened in 1802. Both lateral facades of the church are richly decorated with pinnacles, gargoyles and flying buttresses. The is dominated by an expansive flamboyant rose window. The soaring bell tower dates from the first Gothic construction in the early 1200's; the oldest bell was cast in 1421. The large Gothic portal on the north façade under the bell tower, showing a relief of St. Martin dividing his cloak, was transferred here in the mid-19th century from the church of St-Pierre-aux-boeufs on the Ile de la Cité when it was demolished. Internal highlights include a set of seven modern windows by Jean René Bazaine, inspired by the seven sacraments of the Catholic church; a deambulatory composed of 10 double spans of pillar-palm trees; ; the oldest triforium in Paris; and one of the oldest organs in Paris, dating to 1745. The elements visible here date from the 15th century expansion of the church. The semi-circular shape of the apse embraces and accentuates the central altar, while at the same time the curved form inspires an intimate feeling of shelter and protection. The upper windows around the church were created from the late 14th to the 15th century, and they allow sunlight to illuminate the church vividly throughout the day. The windows nearest the entrance, to right and left, are the oldest, along with the central choir windows.
SSeverin_06
Made by Pete Sieger
Site of 1899 Eugene Atget Photograph Impasse Salembriere from Rue Saint-Severin Across Rue Saint-Severin from Church of Rue Saint-Severin Paris, France Then & Now Comparison Left: 1899, Atget; Right: 2007, Sieger
St-Severin: Organ
Made by Dmitry Shakin
Saint Severin
Made by Lú_
Nearest places of interest:
| Cluny Museum Collège de France Palais de la Mutualité Lycée Henri IV | Square Viviani Ile de la Cite Pont Saint-Michel Lycée Fénelon |
