This paper provides a formal analysis of the Church and Reliquary of Sainte‐Foy, France. This examination begins with the artwork that is visible even before you plunge into the church building. The paper also provides a formal analysis of the church itself together with its structural features that convey that the church was designed by an extraordinary architect. Third, the major features of the artwork conveyed a message that the righteous people were destined for heaven and those that failed to live a righteous life were destined for hell where they would be tormented forever. Fourth, this paper provides a contextual analysis of the church’s artwork by concluding that the artwork was motivated by a religious belief that Christ was and is still the judge of people on earth.
The church of Saint-Foy was newly erected under the guidance of Abbot Odolric in the late 11th century. It was built using a cruciform plan that commemorates Christ’s sacrifice and helped control the crowd of pilgrims. At the forefront, it is characterized by the Tympanum of the Last Judgement. It is made of stone and paint and is located above the central portal. In the center sits a carving of Christ and on his right a carving of Mary, Peter, and probably other saints. The carving is also made of stone and paint. Beneath the carving of the saints is a representation of heaven with Abraham, an outstretched hand of God, and a kneeling Saint Faith is seen. On the other side of the pediment is a row of angels opening the tombs of the dead who shall be admitted to either hell or heaven. The stone and paint carving is fairly in good condition but the paint seems to have faded after many years. There is a division between heaven and hell, and things in hell seem to be daunting and petrifying.
Pilgrims traveling to Conques had one thing in common; the reliquary. This statue is made up of a Wooden interior covered in gold, silver gilt, and jewels. It looks very new and something that art thieves might target. The date of its fabrication is unknown but its first recording was made in the year 1010 by Bernard of Angers. It is highly precious and it was stolen by monks to lure people to Conques. Further its function includes commemorating St. Foy, a young French Christian boy who was persecuted at the age of 12 years.