Saint-Médard, Paris, is a

Roman Catholic Roman or Romans most often refers to: *Rome, the capital city of Italy *Ancient Rome, Roman civilization from 8th century BC to 5th century AD *Roman people, the people of ancient Rome *'' Epistle to the Romans'', shortened to ''Romans'', a lette ...

church located at 105 Rue Mouffetard in the

5th arrondissement of Paris The 5th arrondissement of Paris (''Ve arrondissement'') is one of the 20 Arrondissements of Paris, arrondissements of the capital city of France. In spoken French, this arrondissement is referred to as ''le cinquième''. The arrondissement, als ...

. It takes its name from Saint Medard, the bishop of

Noyon Noyon (; pcd, Noéyon; la, Noviomagus Veromanduorum, Noviomagus of the Veromandui, then ) is a Communes of France, commune in the Oise Departments of France, department, northern France. Geography Noyon lies on the river Oise (river), Oise, a ...

in northern France, who was protector of Queen Razdegonde, and helped her found a convent at

to escape her abusive husband, the King. Medard is the patron saint of French farmers.

History

Early Christian tombs from the

Merovingian The Merovingian dynasty () was the ruling family of the Franks from the middle of the 5th century until 751. They first appear as "Kings of the Franks" in the Roman army of northern Gaul. By 509 they had united all the Franks and northern Gauli ...

period were found by archeologists a few meters from the present church. The cemetery was probably connected with an early oratory from the sixth or seventh century. In the ninth century, following the Norman invasions, a chapel dedicated to Saint Medard, close to the route of the Roman road which connected Roman

Lutetia The Gallo-Roman town of ''Lutetia'' (''Lutetia Parisiorum'' in Latin, in French ''Lutèce'') was the predecessor of the modern-day city of Paris. It was founded in about the middle of the 3rd century BCE by the Parisii, a Gallic tribe. Tra ...

with

Lyon Lyon,, ; Occitan: ''Lion'', hist. ''Lionés'' also spelled in English as Lyons, is the third-largest city and second-largest metropolitan area of France. It is located at the confluence of the rivers Rhône and Saône, to the northwest of t ...

, near the point where the road crossed the Bievre River. The existence of this church, whose parish was attached to the Abbey of Saint Genevieve, is documented in a papal bull in 1163 from

Pope Alexander III Pope Alexander III (c. 1100/1105 – 30 August 1181), born Roland ( it, Rolando), was head of the Catholic Church and ruler of the Papal States from 7 September 1159 until his death in 1181. A native of Siena, Alexander became pope after a con ...

. Construction of the present church began in the early or middle of the 15th century until the 18th century. The work was interrupted by the

Wars of Religion A religious war or a war of religion, sometimes also known as a holy war ( la, sanctum bellum), is a war which is primarily caused or justified by differences in religion. In the modern period, there are frequent debates over the extent to wh ...

. In December 1561, the church was the scene of a dispute between Protestants and Catholics which led to the pillage of the church by the Protestants. In 1683 it became a parish church, within the jurisdiction of the Abbot of the nearby Abbey of Saint-Genevieve. In 1655, the church was placed directly under the Archbishop of Paris, but still kept a close relationship with the abbey. In 1724, the faubourg Sant-Marcel was integrated into the growing city of Paris. In the 18th century the church came under the influence of a more radical group of clerics known as the

Convulsionnaires of Saint-Médard The Convulsionnaires (or Convulsionaries) of Saint-Médard was a group of 18th-century French religious pilgrims who exhibited convulsions and later constituted a religious sect and a political movement. This practice originated at the tomb of Fr ...

. The Convulsionnaires believed that going into a trance and having convulsions could cure illnesses, and was a valid expression of Christian faith. The church was also frequented by the

Jansenists Jansenism was an early modern theological movement within Catholicism, primarily active in the Kingdom of France, that emphasized original sin, human depravity, the necessity of divine grace, and predestination. It was declared a heresy by ...

who also expressed non-traditional Catholic doctrines. Prominent Jansenists connected with Saint-Medard included the philosopher-mathematician

Blaise Pascal Blaise Pascal ( , , ; ; 19 June 1623 – 19 August 1662) was a French mathematician, physicist, inventor, philosopher, and Catholic Church, Catholic writer. He was a child prodigy who was educated by his father, a tax collector in Rouen. Pa ...

. the theologian

Pierre Nicole Pierre Nicole (19 October 1625 – 16 November 1695) was one of the most distinguished of the French Jansenists. Life Born in Chartres, he was the son of a provincial barrister, who took in charge his education. Sent to Paris in 1642 to study t ...

, and another leading Jansenist theologian, François de Pâris, who was buried in the church cemetery. Followers of the Jansenists and Convulsionnairers met secretly in the cemetery at his grave. The Pope declared Jansenism a

heresy Heresy is any belief or theory that is strongly at variance with established beliefs or customs, in particular the accepted beliefs of a church or religious organization. The term is usually used in reference to violations of important religi ...

, and issued a decree forbidding access to the cemetery. Convulsionnaires were arrested and imprisoned in the

Bastille The Bastille (, ) was a fortress in Paris, known formally as the Bastille Saint-Antoine. It played an important role in the internal conflicts of France and for most of its history was used as a state prison by the kings of France. It was sto ...

. In 1784, an ambitious new building program began, under the architect Petit-Radel. The choir was modified and a new axial chapel was added to the apse at the east end. During the French Revolution, the clergy of church were required to take an oath to the civil Constitution, which they did, but, in November 1793, as the Revolution became more radical, the church was shut down by the government. In 1798 it re-opened in a new form as a Constitutional church, shared by both the re-opened for a time in 1798 as a Constitutional church, with the clergy taking an oath to the government as well as the church. The building was shared between the Catholics and a congregation of revolutionary Christians called Theophilanthropes. They was soon replaced by another Revolutionary church called the Decadire, or onstitutional Catholics. The week was modified from seven to ten days, and on each tenth day it became a Temple of Labor. In 1801, when Napoleon signed a Concordat with the Pope at Notre-Dame, the church was finally restored to the Catholic Church. File:Plan de Paris vers 1550 St-Medart Bievre.jpg, The church on the map of Paris (1550) File:Eglise Saint Médard à Paris, Aquarelle signée par Isidore Laurent Deroy (1797-1886).jpg, The church in the mid-19th century, by Isidore Deroy File:Eugène Atget, Place Saint-Médard, 1898-1900 - Getty Museum.jpg, The church in 1898–1900, by

Eugene Atget Eugene may refer to: People and fictional characters * Eugene (given name), including a list of people and fictional characters with the given name * Eugene (actress) (born 1981), Kim Yoo-jin, South Korean actress and former member of the sin ...

Exterior

The exterior is a somewhat awkward collection of architecture; the flying buttresses are supported by very massive abutments, but do not align with the chapels alongside the church, indicating that the chapels were built afterwards. The sides of the church are lined by rows of trees, and the building is difficult to see except in winter. The west front, facing

rue Mouffetard Rue Mouffetard () is a street in the 5th arrondissement of Paris, France. Situated in the fifth (''cinquième'') arrondissement of Paris, Rue Mouffetard is one of Paris's oldest and liveliest neighbourhoods. These days the area has many restaura ...

, features a large bay filled with a large

Flamboyant Gothic Flamboyant (from ) is a form of late Gothic architecture that developed in Europe in the Late Middle Ages and Renaissance, from around 1375 to the mid-16th century. It is characterized by double curves forming flame-like shapes in the bar-tr ...

window, flanked by Flamboyant pinnacles, dating the upper facade to the 15th century. However, the lower part of the facade, rebuilt in the 18th century and again in the 19th century, has no decoration or architectural distinction. Some architectural historians believe that the original facade resembled that of Saint-Nicolas-des Champs in the 3rd arrondissement. File:Eglise Saint-Medard, Paris 24 April 2012.jpg, The west front, with Flamboyant window and decoration File:P1070297 Paris V église Saint-Médard rwk.JPG, South side of the church, hidden by trees

The plan and the interior

The nave and the western front were built in the middle of the 15th century. The west front was extensively changed in the 18th and 19th century, and the lower portions were entirely redesigned. The choir, the portion of church at the east end where the clergy worships, was constructed between 1562 and 1620. The Chapel of the Virgin, the axial chapel at the east end of the church, was added in 1784. File:F0682 Paris V eglise St-Medard plan rwk.jpg, Plan of the church, showing the periods of construction File:P1000888 Paris V Eglise Saint-Médard Choeur reductwk.JPG, The choir, with its wooden vaults File:Dedicace église Saint Médard 11 septembre 2011.jpg, Dedication of new altar by André Vingt-Trois, Archbishop of Paris (September 11, 2011)

The nave, and the choir

The periods of construction are visible in the different styles in the nave. The first three traverses of the nave ate to the mid-15th to the early-16th century. are in the

Flamboyant Flamboyant (from ) is a form of late Gothic architecture that developed in Europe in the Late Middle Ages and Renaissance, from around 1375 to the mid-16th century. It is characterized by double curves forming flame-like shapes in the bar-tr ...

or late Gothic style. mid-15th to the early-16th century. The arcades have pointed arches, and are supported by columns without capitals. The next three traverses are from the 17th century, in a larger "tier-point" form. The choir, built between the mid-16th and the beginning of the 17th century, is in the Renaissance style, with rounded arches. In the 1622 the choir was given a new vaulted ceiling built of wood instead of stone. In the 18th century, the columns were carved with grooves to give them a more classical appearance. The carved wooden tower of the

pulpit A pulpit is a raised stand for preachers in a Christian church. The origin of the word is the Latin ''pulpitum'' (platform or staging). The traditional pulpit is raised well above the surrounding floor for audibility and visibility, access ...

(1718) between the nave and choir is the classical centerpiece of the church. File:P1000889 Paris V Eglise Saint-Médard autel reductwk.JPG, The classical choir and altar File:Pulpit @ Eglise Saint-Médard @ Paris (32733124655).jpg, The pulpit (1718)

The disambulatory and chapels

The oldest chapels are located on the left side in the west end of the nave. The disambulatory around and behind the choir leads to a series of more recent chapels and the axial chapel at the east end, which was added in the 18th century. The chapels are filled with elaborate art work and decoration. The chapel at the east end of the church was constructed by the architect Louis-François Petit-Radel in 1784. In conformance with a vow made by King Louis XIII, this chapel, like other axial chapels in France of the period, were dedicated to the Virgin Mary. It has a classical simplicity. Until recent times, the chapel was closed off from view of the rest of the church by a wall of stone rubble. File:P1000885 Paris V Eglise Saint-Médard Nef nord reductwk.JPG, Chapels on the north side of the nave File:Eglise Saint-Medard interior 2, Paris 24 April 2012.jpg, Chapel of the Virgin, at east end of church File:P1000890 Paris V Eglise Saint-Médard Déambulatoire reductwk.JPG, Chaoels of the disambulatory

Art and Decoration

Sculpture

File:Eglise Saint-Médard @ Paris (32609830621).jpg, Archangel appearing to Saint Joan of Arc by Verrebout (1888-1889). File:P1000887 Paris V Eglise Saint-Médard statue saint Denis.JPG, Saint Denis penitent (18th c.) File:Eglise Saint-Médard @ Paris (32692836556).jpg, Bas-relief of La Vierge et l'Enfan, by Verrebout (1888-1889)

Column sculpture

Several vestiges of sculpture from the earlier churches can be seen in the column capitals and in places where the arches meet the walls of the nave. File:F0691 Paris V eglise Saint-Medard chapiteau rwk.jpg, Gothic arch sculpture - a

Harpy In Greek mythology and Roman mythology, a harpy (plural harpies, , ; lat, harpȳia) is a half-human and half-bird personification of storm winds. They feature in Homeric poems. Descriptions They were generally depicted as birds with the hea ...

, half-woman, half bird (15th century) File:F0684 Paris V eglise Saint-Medard chapiteau rwk.jpg, Gothic arch - a dragon (15th century File:F0698 Paris V eglise Saint-Medard chapiteau rwk.jpg, Classical column capital in choir

Paintings

The chapels along the sides of the church contain several paintings by notable artists of the 18th and 19th centuries. They include: * "Jesus chasing the merchants from the Temple" by

Charles-Joseph Natoire Charles-Joseph Natoire (3 March 1700 – 23 August 1777) was a French painter in the Rococo manner, a pupil of François Lemoyne and director of the French Academy in Rome, 1751–1775. Considered during his lifetime the equal of François Bouc ...

(1700–1777) * "The promenade of Saint Joseph and the Infant Jesus" by

Francisco de Zurbarán Francisco de Zurbarán ( , ; baptized 7 November 1598 – 27 August 1664) was a Spanish Painting, painter. He is known primarily for his religious paintings depicting monks, nuns, and martyrs, and for his still-lifes. Zurbarán gained the nicknam ...

* "Saint Cecila" by Pierre-Jacques Cazes (1676–1754) * "The Marriage of the Virgin" by

Alexandre-François Caminade Alexandre-François Caminade (14 December 1783 – May 1862) was a French painter. Caminade was born and died in Paris. He was a portraitist and a religious painter. He was Jacques-Louis David's pupil. Main works *''Flight into Egypt'', St. Etie ...

(1783–1852) The work by Zurbaran was originally painted for the altarpiece in a convent in Seville, then was sold to a French banker who placed it in the church. The painting of Caminade of "The Marriage of the Virgin" was commission by Cardinal Melchior de Polignac when Caminade was still a student in the Academy of Rome. He was a pupil of

Jacques-Louis David Jacques-Louis David (; 30 August 1748 – 29 December 1825) was a French painter in the Neoclassicism, Neoclassical style, considered to be the preeminent painter of the era. In the 1780s, his cerebral brand of history painting marked a change in ...

. File:P1010163 Paris V Eglise Saint-Médard retable reductwk.JPG, Retable in Chapel of Saint_Catherine, paintings of Christ and the Virgin Mary after the Crucifixion, Saint Vincent and Saint Honoré (anonymous artist, 16h century) File:La Promenade de l'Enfant Jésus par Francisco Zurbaran, env.1635.jpg, "Promenade of Saint Joseph with Infant Jesus" by

(1598 –1664) File:Cazes Cecile.jpg, "Saint Cecila" by Pierre-Jacques Cazes (1676–1754) File:Le mariage de la Vierge.jpg, "The Marriage of the Virgin" by

(1783-1852)

Stained glass

In the chapels the church has preserved a number of old panels of stained glass from the 16th century, which have been inserted into newer windows. File:F0689 Paris V eglise Saint-Medard chapelle Annonciation vitrail rwk.jpg, "Donors in Prayer", Chapel of the Annunciation (16th century) File:F0676 Paris V eglise Saint-Medard vitrail rwk.jpg, "Christ and St. Roch, St. Catherine (16th c.) File:P1010164 Paris V Eglise Saint-Médard vitrail reductwk.JPG, "Stained glas of the Three Saints" (1889) File:Paris-St-Médard325.JPG, Angel and Saints (16th c.) File:Paris-St-Médard322.JPG, "Christ in Majesty" File:Paris-St-Médard321.JPG, "Angel Musician" File:Paris-St-Médard538.JPG, "Saint Francis of Asisi" (1889)

The organ

File:P1010174 Paris V Eglise Saint-Médard Orgue reductwk.JPG, The organ on the tribune at the west end of the nave File:F0696 Paris V eglise St-Medard orgue rwk.jpg, Detail of the organ case and decoration The church organ, on the tribune over the west end of the church, was built by François-Henri Cliquot. The carved oak case of the organ was made in 1644–46 by the master wood artist Germain Pillon, and is one of the oldest in Paris. Its decoration features three towers topped with the heads of angels and harpies. At the top is a figure of Christ resurrected with two angels at his feet. The console of the organ is decorated with two angel- musicians.Dumoulin, 'Eglises de Paris", p. 98.

References

External links (In French)

Web site of the church and parish

Base Mérimée listing of the church by the Ministry of Culture

Site of patrimoine-histoire.fr -Detailed description of the art and architecture

Bibliography

*Dumoulin, Aline; Ardisson, Alexandra; Maingard, Jérôme; Antonello, Murielle; ''Églises de Paris'' (2010), Éditions Massin, Issy-Les-Moulineaux, *Lecompte, Francis and Ladoux, Bernard, "Paris Rive Gauche – Quartier Latin, St, Germain des Prés, Montparnasse – Les Essentials du Patrimoine", Éditions Massin, Paris, *