Saint Matthias 1st Century

©EPV/Didier Saulnier

Apostle 1st Century

The decision to have monumental sculpted decoration on the balustrade and the pediment of the Royal Chapel was taken in around 1705. The carefully chosen subject matter of the decoration mixes allegory with great figures of Christianity. The four evangelists rub shoulders with the twelve apostles, the four Fathers of the Latin Church, the four Fathers of the Greek Church and six allegories of Christian virtue.

Sculptor
Jean de Lapierre (1664-1711)

Date scultped
1707

Height
2.87 metres, including plinthe

Material
Tonnerre stone

Restoration of the Royal Chapel

Saint Matthias

Saint Matthias the apostle is represented with a beard and short hair, wearing a long-sleeved tunic with a cloak over it. He is holding an axe in his right hand, the weapon used in his death as a martyr by decapitation.

Saint Matthias was chosen from among Jesus’ disciples to replace Judas as the twelfth apostle. After receiving the Holy Spirit with the other apostles on the day of Pentecost, he left to preach the gospel in Judea and Colchis, where he was crucified.

Saint Barnabas and Saint Matthias

© EPV/Didier Saulnier

sculptor Jean de Lapierre

In the decoration of the Chapel, the sculpture reflects the architecture. Jean de Lapierre also made trophies of musical instruments for the music gallery topped with reliefs of child musicians in 1708.

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