The Guimiliau calvary is enormous and the statues displayed on it cover 37 scenes from the life and death of Jesus Christ.
The date 1581 was inscribed on the architrave above the altar on the east facade and 1588 appears near the figure of the Virgin Mary in the scene depicting the Adoration of the Magi.
The priest could deliver a sermon, surrounded by pictorial representations of the stories he would relate to a largely illiterate congregation.
This altar has a column on each side, these supporting the architrave and in a niche here is a depiction of saint Paul Aurelian who founded the diocese of Léon.
[2][3][4] On the frieze above the columns of the altar there is an inscription reading "AD GLORIAM DOMINI-1581-CRUX EGO FACTA FUI"[1][5] The cross has a granite shaft and the crucified Jesus, sculpted in kersanton, is attended by four angels who are collecting his blood.
Jesus stands upright and emerges from the tomb whilst at his feet guards sleep, surrounded by a heap of discarded weaponry.
[2] On the upper surface of the east facing side, we firstly have a statue of a cavalier on horseback this being the figure who leads the scene covering Christ Carrying the Cross.
The frieze below concentrates on Jesus' childhood with a depiction of the Adoration of the Magi then the Nativity and culminating with the Flight into Egypt.
[2] On the upper surface of the north face, we start on the left with Pontius Pilate sitting on his throne and washing his hands.
Finally, we see Judas holding his purse, Jesus' arrest and St Peter taking out his sword to cut off Malchus's ear.
[2] The Église Saint-Miliau, the parish church in the Guimiliau enclos paroissial, has a magnificently carved porch dating to 1606-1617 and a 16th-century bell tower in the Beaumanoir style.
An old French Railway poster showing the Guimiliau calvary
The emaciated body of Jesus is brought down from the cross.
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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 (on the left) holds a purse. A servant is seen carrying a basket of bread rolls and a carafe of wine whilst other wine jugs can be seen laying under the table. On a plate before Jesus is the
pascal lamb
The scene showing the entry into Jerusalem
In this scene we see the
nativity
with Mary and Joseph being helped by two angels whilst next to the heads of two cattle another angel brings two shepherds to see the baby. On the right is the
Flight into Egypt
with Mary sitting side-saddle on an ass and holding baby Jesus. Joseph leads, his pilgrim's stick reminding us that they have set out on a long journey
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. Nine people are present and in the centre the three Marys (
Mary Salome
,
Mary Cleophas
and
Mary Magdalene
) comfort each other. It has been written that the image of Mary Magdalene is based on
Mary Stuart
who was beheaded in 1587 and came to
Roscoff
to marry François 11. Near the head of Jesus is the
Virgin Mary
, her arms crossed against her chest, next to
Nicodemus
who holds the shroud. At Jesus' feet is a depiction of
Joseph of Arimathea
with
John the Evangelist
and
Gamaliel
. Behind Joseph of Arimathea are a group of pilgrims from
Emmaüs
. The Guimiliau calvary is the only calvary to deal with the journey to Emmaüs. Jesus has now risen and leads Cleophas and another to Emmaüs.
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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. On the left corner, one firstly sees 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 deliberately and maliciously push down on the cross to increase its 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 is seen 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.
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