Enameled Bronze Christ In Majesty, After Saint-michel d'Aiguilhe

Height: 13.3 cm
Width: 11.9 cm

A rare depiction of the Christ in Majesty inspired by the famous crucifix housed at Saint-Michel d’Aiguilhe, near Le Puy-en-Velay, one of the major sanctuaries of medieval pilgrimage in the West. The Saint-Michel Chapel, built atop a spectacular volcanic dyke as early as the 10th century, remains one of the most iconic symbols of the Velay region and the pilgrimage routes to Santiago de Compostela. Town of Aiguilhe

Christ is depicted here according to the Romanesque iconography of the Christus Triumphans, a theological representation predating the large crucifixes of the Passion. The Savior is not shown in suffering but in the glory of the Resurrection. His arms are solemnly outstretched, his eyes remain open, his face is imbued with serenity, and the long tunic recalls Byzantine models that exerted considerable influence on Western religious art in the 11th and 12th centuries. Perseus

The composition is distinguished by the vigor of its design: a monumental head, a straight nose, a stylized beard, hands with individually rendered fingers, and drapery with rhythmic vertical folds. The cobalt-blue enamels, accented with gold details, lend the piece a particularly decorative and spiritual presence.

The reverse bears the inscription:

“ST MICHEL D’AIGUILHE - XI”

recalling the origin of the medieval model, whose essential characteristics this work faithfully reproduces.

With its size, quality of craftsmanship, and traditional enameling, this piece follows in the tradition of 20th-century French workshops specializing in the reinterpretation of Romanesque art. Similar pieces have been created by art workshops inspired by France’s medieval heritage, including the Atelier Piéchaud, which has been active since the 1950s in creating enameled bronzes inspired by the Middle Ages. Les Tailleurs d’Images

Both an object of devotion and a collector’s item, this Christ in Majesty is a captivating testament to the enduring influence of Romanesque motifs in contemporary French religious art.

In good condition.
Some wear and slight surface alterations consistent with its age and use.