Introduction
The Saint Sernin structure is of historic context in that it is of an ancient foundation. The structure this architect holds historic account of Saint Sernin, the Toulouse first bishop who was martyred in 250 C.E. The structure is also historic on the basis that it is one of the exhibits of the pilgrimage. Being the artistic work that exists as a representation of the various significant historic occurrences then it is historically important as it depicts the religious historic context of the people of Toulouse, France (Radding 8).
The structure is historically document to have been constructed as an honor of Saint Saturnin or Sernin who was the first Bishop of Toulouse. Sernin was martyred at around 250 C.E. He is historically known to a victim of the pagan popular uprising. His death is one of the most unique of this era as he was tied to a bull by his feet and then he was dragged to death. His body was buried secretly. After this encounter he grew a cult figure calling for honorship from the church by building a church at the current place Basilica. The structure is a typical representation of Romanesque architecture in addition to being an existing example of the pilgrimage church. The structure can is identifiable to be of the medieval age and a representation of the historic Romanesque pilgrimage church because it is huge. The pilgrimage church is known to have been attracting many people and thus the structure was strategically designed to attract many large numbers of worshipers. The structure is thus symbolic of the pilgrimage designs for larger building (Radding 60).
The architectural design of Saint Sernin exhibit religious aspects of Christianity at the medieval age. The corresponding plan of this Saint Sernin has all the requirements for the Christians Basilica that is; it has the transept, nave, side aisles and apse. Along the ambulatory of the chapel, there are radiating chapels. The chapels must probably be holding relics and other devotional items. Pilgrims are suspected to have been making stops at the chapels during their visits to this church. The general architectural design of the structure is in the form of the cross. This is the Christianity based religious philosophical representation of Christ cross (crucifix) in addition to the representation of the holy trinity. The interior sections of the architectural work exhibits Romanesque architectural style. This section is dominated by rounded arches and Roman like barrel vaults (Hanser 43). In addition to this the structural design the building has an alter. Alters are known to be of religious sanctity as it represents a place for offering sacrifice by worshippers and believers.
The exterior parts of the architecture are understood with its religious representation of the biblical Lazarus and Dives. There are two doorways to the exterior parts of the building, the Porte des Miegeville and Porte des Comtes. On the upper side of the Porte des Comtes there is depiction of Dives and Lazarus (Radding 54). Though the sculpture is recognized as an important religious stoppage for the Pilgrimage, it is a more reflection of the culture of its era. This is evident from the radiating chapels and the elongation of the nave in the region of the ambulatory where the relics were reported to have been performed from. The sculpture is a representation of the Christian faith and way of religious life.
The work of Saint Sernin has exemplified the art of movement from the interior to the exterior design. Saint Sernin was built by St.Sylvius, bishop of Toulouse by using different art movements. The architecture decided to design the building in form of a crucifix (Hanser 15).The building can easily be visualized in three dimensions. Unlike many of the churches, the ceilings are vaulted. It contains radiating chapels, which display relics.
This is an art of movement which architecture has used to develop the building. The rotating chapel’s makes the building to be attractive and self-explaining as a person can easily know that it is a church. The radiating chapels have been used. The ambulatory way goes to the radiating the rotating chapels. The use of rotating chapel represents the art of movement in buildings. This is a style, which is used in buildings to make the building more attractive.
Another style is how the building has been painted. It is painted in such a way that it is reflected even very far. A person can see the building while when or she away due to its shiny appearance. The radiating chapels make the building appear shiny and attractive. I t is said that the chapel can be viewed while the mass is on and the mss cannot be disrupted. This is because there is an ambulatory an ambulatory that goes around the nave and slide aisles to allow for the viewing of the chapel (Hanser 65). All these features are painted in shiny paints that make them attractive.
The ambulatory walkway also exemplifies the art of movement as it goes around the nave and side aisles to the viewing of the chapels without disturbing the mass. The shiny appearance of the building and the radiating nature of the chapel exemplify the art of movement style technique. The ambulatory leading to viewing of the radiating chapel also exemplify the art of movement (Radding 78).
The architectural design techniques, which have been employed in designing the building, led to the shiny and attractive. The outward appearance of the building is appealing to the eyes. This is because it is design in such a way that the person can view the building in three dimensions from all sides, front, back or sides. The building is done in a pilgrimage design. The building is done in such a way that the bell tower inclined towards the western direction.
The interior part of the building is designed in such a way that those who are in the house cannot be disturbed by what is going on outside the house. When the mass is going on inside the building, the viewers can view the chapels without disturbing the doing the mass inside the building. The doors are designed in the conical shape. The doors are large and accommodate large groups of people coming and going into the building. The exterior part of the building has two doorways (Hanser 87).
The doorways allow free movement of the people in and out. Saint Sernin is designed in such a way that looks shiny from all sides. The shiny appearance of the building makes it attractive. The chapels’ viewing is done by following ambulatory. The chapels design makes them radiate. The radiating attracts people to the chapel (Radding 98). People can view the chapel without disturbing the mass taking place inside the building. The painting of the building is done by the use of different paints which makes shine and attractive.
Works Cited
Hanser, David A. Architecture of France. Westport, Conn: Greenwood Press, 2006. Print.
Radding, Charles, and William W. Clark. Medieval Architecture, Medieval Learning: Builders and Masters in the Age of Romanesque and Gothic. New Haven: Yale University Press, 1992. Print.
