Memory of Stones
Saint-Caprais Cathedral in Agen
The Saint-Caprais Cathedral in Agen is a French Catholic cathedral , located in Agen in the Lot-et-Garonne department. Built in the 12th century, it is the seat of the diocese of Agen .
The Saint-Caprais cathedral was classified as a historic monument in 1862. Located on a pilgrimage route to Saint-Jacques-de-Compostelle, it is listed as a UNESCO world heritage site under the “ Chemins de Saint-Jacques-de- Compostela in France ”
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Architecture:
The Saint-Caprais cathedral in Agen has several architectural features: its Romanesque apse is extended by a Gothic vessel with a single nave . Replacing an old wooden campanile , the current bell tower was built in 1835 at the initiative of Bishop Mgr de Lévézou de Vezins and has the particularity of being composed of three Gothic stylistic elements (lancet Gothic, radiant Gothic, Flamboyant Gothic ) curiously presented in their reverse chronological order.
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Decoration:
The painted decoration was entrusted to Jean-Louis Bézard , painter from Toulouse, Prix de Rome in 1829. He carried out the decoration of the chapel of the Saint-Jacques d'Agen hospice, current departmental hotel, in 1845 which has disappeared. At the same time, he began to paint the Chapel of the Virgin in the cathedral. He continued to decorate the cathedral until 1869. The choice of themes was made by the clergy of the cathedral and was the subject of debate between the painter and Father Deyche. For the decoration of the cul-de-four , the choice was made to represent the martyrs of the Agen saints. For the rest of the decoration, the paintings mix local themes and Marian iconography, the great figures of the Bible from the Old Testament and the New Testament. Jean-Louis Bézard was inspired by the decor of the Sicilian churches of Palermo and Monréale for the medallions of the arches of the crossing of the transept
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The paintings on the walls and ceilings represent the history of the coming of Christianity to the region. A central place is given to the first Agen martyrs. Other paintings are presented by series: the Evangelists, the apostles, the patriarchs of the Jewish people (Abraham, Noë ...), the great kings of Israel ...
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Vault of the north transept
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Vault of the south transept
The Saint-Caprais cathedral in Agen has several particularities: its Romanesque apse is extended by a Gothic vessel with a single nave; all the walls, without exception, are painted and present a remarkable set of illustrations from the Old and New Testaments, an exceptional lamp holder representing Saint Caprais.
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The cathedral is much shorter than one might expect, judging from the size of the choir; in fact, political and financial difficulties greatly influenced the final form of the cathedral.
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Crossing of the transepts
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