Saint Bartholomew the Apostle. Head and upper body of one of 12 polychrome apostle statues, sculpted in wood in 1721, that flank the entrance to a Breton church, L’Eglise Saint Sauveur in Le Faou, Finistère, Brittany, France. The statues have recently been restored and repainted.
L’Eglise Saint Sauveur, Le Faou, Finistère, Brittany, France: Saint Bartholomew. Head and upper body of one of 12 polychrome apostle statues, sculpted in wood and dated 1721, in the southern porch and flanking the main entrance to the church of Saint Saviour. Very little is known about Saint Bartholomew, but he is mentioned in the Gospels and Acts as one of Jesus’s 12 Apostles. His name means “son of Tolomai” and it is thought he is the same as Nathaniel, who is referred to in the Gospel of John. The 12 apostle statues in the church of Saint Saviour, six on either side of the porch, do not include Judas Iscariot. However, they do include Saint Paul of Tarsus (c. 5 AD - ), known as Paul the Apostle, who spread the teachings of Jesus but was not one of Jesus’s 12 Apostles. The statues have recently been restored and repainted. Each apostle stands in a niche with a scallop-shell hood. Six of the apostles hold a book in one hand (another has a book tucked under his arm). Several hold a symbol of their identity or martyrdom. The current church of Saint Saviour was rebuilt between 1544 and 1680 with a 17th century domed bell tower, double transept and ornately sculpted south porch. The south sacristy was rebuilt in 1877. Le Faou is the northern gateway to the Crozon Peninsula, situated on the River Aulne estuary.
Size: 3878px × 3878px
Location: L’Eglise Saint Sauveur, Church of Saint Saviour, Le Faou, Finistère, Brittany, France
Photo credit: © Terence Kerr / Alamy / Afripics
License: Royalty Free
Model Released: No
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