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An old poster showing the Guimiliau calvary

The Guimiliau calvary is enormous and the statues displayed cover 37 scenes from the life and death of Jesus Christ. It comprises an octagonal base with arched corners. The statues are spread over the surface of this base and along the frieze which runs around it.  A single cross with crosspieces rises from the platform. It was built between 1581 and 1588. The date 1581 was inscribed on the architrave au-dessus the altar on the east facade and 1588 appeared near the figure of the Virgin Mary in the scene depicting the Adoration of the Magi. The Calvary was restored in 1881 and the lichens cleaned off in 2009. The buttress on the north-east corner has a small stairway leading up to the main surface of platform. This enabled the Calvary to be used as a pulpit. The priest could deliver a sermon surrounded by pictorial representations of the stories he would relate to a largely illiterate congregation. Each buttress has a niche on the outer side in which there are depictions of the Evangelists each sculpted with their attribute. The main facade is that on the west side and this has an altar added to it. This altar has a column on each side these supporting the architrave and in a niche here is a depiction of Saint Pol who founded the diocese of Léon. The various statues are placed on the main platform and along the frieze which runs around the plinth. The figures on the frieze are smaller than those on the platform. The figures on the platform are in ronde bosse whilst those on the frieze are in high relief. The east face of the Calvary covers the "royalty" of Jesus and the resurrection, the south face is devoted mainly to the washing of the disciples feet and the carrying of the cross. The west face concentrates on Jesus' childhood and his burial whilst finally the north face deals with the passion and Jesus' suffering.

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The Cross

the emaciated body of Jesus is brought down from the cross

The cross has a round shaft and the crucified Jesus appears at the top with two angels who are collecting his blood. On the crosspiece below are back to back statues depicting the Virgin Mary and St Peter and John the Evangelist and Saint Yves

The west face of the calvary

The scene involving the "Last supper". Ten of the disciples sit behind the table with Judas and another disciple sitting at the table ends. Judas holds a purse. A servant is seen carrying a basket of bread rolls and a carafe of wine whilst other wine holders can be seen laying under the table. On a plate before Jesus is the pascal lamb

Firstly on this face on the calvary there is a niche on the arched buttress which contains a statue of Paul Aurelian. Then on the upper surface of the west facing side, the first scene shows Jesue being crowned with thorns this followed by a pieta and a depiction of Mary Magdalene. The next scene depicts the resurrection and then Katel Gollet who had taken te devil as a lover is shown trapped in the yawning mouth of a monster and above is te trumpet soudimg te last judement. The frieze on this side has a depiction of  John the Evangelist followed by a depiction of the Entry into Jerusalem and then the Last Supper.

• In the scene depicting Jesus being crowned with thorns, Jesus is sat with hands tied and a look of resignation.

• In the scene showing the "Last Supper" Jesus and nine f his disciples sit at a table with Judas and another disciple sitting at the table ends. Judas holds a purse.

The scene showing the entry into Jerusalem

The east face of the calvary

In this scene we see the nativity with Mary and Joseph being helped by two angels whilst next two the heads of two cattle another angel brings two shepherds to see the baby. On the right the Flight into Egypt

On the upper surface of the east facing side we firstly have a statue of a cavalier on horseback. Then we see Jesus being mocked and teased then the "mise au tombeau" with Jesus' body being prepared for burial and finally Pontius Pilate depicted washing his hands. The frieze below starts on the left with a statue of Matthew the Evangelist, this followed by the Adoration of the Magi then the Nativity. The final scene on this section of the frieze covers the Flight into Egypt.

The south face of the calvary

The south face of the calvary at Guimiliau. The statuary on the upper surface is dominated by the procession involving Christ Carrying the Cross to Calvary where he will be crucified but on the left corner we firstly see the scene dealing with the Harrowing of Hell before the image of Saint Veronica holding out her veil which now carries Jesus' image, and then, rather oddly positioned, Jesus' baptism by John the baptist. Now we have the scene covering Christ Carrying the Cross and encounter a group of soldiers who accompany Jesus. Some carry arms, some play instruments and some deliberatly and maliciously push down on the cross to increase it's weight.Then we see Jesus himself with Simon of Cyrene and then more soldiers and finish on the far right where those leading the cortege are shown including one riding a horse. On the lower frieze we see the seated Luke the Evangelist in the niche at the end of the arched buttress then, starting on the left, the visitation followed by the scene showing Jesus washing the disciples feet and finally the Annunciation, before the depiction of Matthew the Evangelist in the niche on the right hand side arched buttress

On the upper surface of the south facing side we firstly have a depiction of Jesus leading an innocent from Hell. This is followed by Saint Veronica holding her veil upon which we see that Jesus' image has appeared. The next scene covers Jesus' baptism followed by a depiction of Jesus carrying the Cross. Then on the frieze below we firstly see the seated Luke the Evangelist with his attribute the bull, his seated statue contained in a niche followed by a scene depicting the visitation. [[Saint Elizabeth and a servant greet the Virgin Mary. Then we see Jesus washing a disciple's feet with the Annunciation being the last scene shown on the frieze. We then come to the niche in the next buttress here with a depiction of Matthew the Evangelist with this attribute, a young man.

• The depiction of the ritual of Jesus washing the disciples' feet comes in three sections. In the first a disciple is seated whilst three disciples stand behind waiting their turn and taking a glass which sits on a small table. In the central section Jesus, his sleeves rolled up, kneels before Saint Peter and rubs his right foot vigorously. The other foot rests in a bowl of water. Behind them another two disciples carry a basin and a jug of water this to be used for rinsing. In the third and final group John the Evangelist has his arms crossed and stands with the other four disciples, one of whom is seated. All the disciples appear to greet Jesus, action with incomprehension and discomfort not understanding and not comfortable with the apparent changing of roles.

• On the corner on the calvary's south west face Jesus is shown leading the damned from Limbo-see Harrowing of Hell, this before we encounter St Veronica with her veil and Jesus' baptism before coming to the main procession involving Christ Carrying the Cross.

• At this point and just after the depiction of St Veronica, we see Jesus' baptism by John the Baptist in the presence of an angel- Baptism of Jesus. The angel holds Jesus' tunic whilst the baptism takes place. John the baptist wears an animal skin and holds a book in one hand. The other hand, with which John pours the water of the River Jordan on Jesus' head, is broken.

• Many consider the scene depicting Christ Carrying the Cross as the most spectacular part of the Guimiliau calvary. Jesus carrying his cross does of course dominate the scene but the disposition and treatment of those forming the procession create a feeling of movement. The cortège is led by a cavalier on horseback and includes a soldier beating out a rhythm on a tambour and another blowing a trumpet. The soldier in front of Jesus leans maliciously on the cross to increase its weight. Simon of Cyrene helps Jesus to carry the cross and a second soldier is shown behind Jesus blowing a trumpet and another sits with a shield and another carries a whip which he presses down on the cross which includes both patibulum and stipes

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  The horseman leading the cortege of Christ Carrying the Cross. In the niche below we see the seated St Matthew.
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  Part of the procession accompanying Jesus carrying the Cross to Golgotha. On the left we see St Veronica with her veil, then Jesus being baptized and then some of the soldiers accompanying Jesus.
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  St Veronica holds up her veil bearing Jesus' image.
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  The front of the procession of Christ Carrying the Cross. A soldier beats out a rhthym on a tambour.
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  The visitation. Mary meets with St Elizabeth
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  Jesus washing the disciples feet.

Jesus struggles to carry the cross to Calvary Hill

The north face of the calvary

On the upper surface of the north face we start on the left with Pontius Pilate depicted washing his hands. This is followed by two Pharasees who are holding law books and a copy of the written accusation concerning Jesus. Then we see Jesus tied up by four Roman soldiers who are mocking him this followed by the actual flogging. Jesus is tied to a column and is being whipped by one of the soldiers whilst two others chat and a fourth lays sleeping at Jesus' feet. On the section of frieze below we have Mark the Evangelist, then the circumsision, a scene showing Jesus' presentation at the temple, then Jesus praying in Gethsemane with three of the desciples asleep. Finally we see Judas holding his purse, Jesus' arrest and St Peter taking out his sword to cut off Malchus's ear.

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The mise au Tombeau

The  mise au tombeau. Part of the Guimiliau calvary.Jesus' body has been taken down from the cross and his body is prepared for burial

Gallery

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  The visitation.
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  Jesus washing the disciples feet.
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