CHURCH OF SAINT SERNIN TOULOUSE

Artist: T. Allom ____________ Engraver: T. Turnbull

Note: the title in the table above is printed below the engraving

AN ANTIQUE STEEL ENGRAVING MADE IN THE 1860s !! ITEM IS OVER 130 YEARS OLD!

VERY OLD WORLD! INCREDIBLE DETAIL!

St. Sernin was the first bishop of Toulouse, martyred in 250. A church was built on the site of the present basilica in the 5th century, and his remains were taken there. By the year 1000 the church became an important point on the pilgrimage route to Santiago de Campostela. In the 1060's the canons decided to build a larger church to accommodate the flow of pilgrims. Saint-Sernin is a masterpiece of Romanesque architecture in its proportions and the perfection of its sculpture. Connected to the Capitole Place by the Rue du Taur, the Saint-Sernin Basilica is an impressive masonry, which has just proudly celebrated its 900 years. This church is named after Saint Saturnin, christian martyr in 250, whose relics are stored in the crypt. The construction of the Basilica was decided at the end of the eleventh century. The vault which was built during the fifth century, on the same location than the current basilica, was regularly overflowed by the faithful ones. Toulouse then received the visit of many pilgrims on the path of Saint-Jacques de Compostelle, or coming to adore the relics of Saint Saturnin . The construction began with the "chevet", in 1080, on the top of the vault. One can always visit the primitive church today, which acts as a crypt. It accommodates some crowned relics. Sixteen years after the beginning of construction, in 1096, the pope Urbain II devoted the furnace bridge. The construction of the church continued during the Gothic period, as well as during the Renaissance. The basilica underwent many transformations since the eleventh century. Until the nineteenth, one proceeded to modifications. The most disastrous were those of Viollet-le-Duc. The principal interest of this basilica is thus the diversity of the styles which it manages to combine, mixing Romanesque and Gothic, stones and bricks. It is the largest romanesque church known. Saint Sernin remained a church until 1778, when it was finally devoted Basilica.

FROM THE ORIGINAL DESCRIPTION: Toulouse is the ancient capital of Languedoc, and now of the Upper Garonne. It stands on both sides of the river of that name, 'just above the point where the Canal du Midi, connecting the Atlantic with the Mediterranean, falls into it after winding round the north and east sides of the town." On the left bank is the suburb of St. Cyprien, connected with the city by three bridges-the Pent Neuf, of brick, the Font St. Pierre, and a suspension-bridge of iron wire. The town is old, exhibiting little architectural beauty in its public edifices; but there are many memorable events connected with it. Of the churches, that of St. Sernin is the largest and oldest. It is built of brick and stone, in the Romanesque style, and was finished and consecrated in 1090, by Pope Urban II. It is conspicuous by its lofty octagonal tower, formed by five tiers of arches, each less in size than the one below it. It contains several tombs of the early Counts of Toulouse; but, anterior to 1789, it boasted of possessing the bodies of no fewer than seven of the apostles. The church of St. Taur is more remarkable for its interior than its exterior. It takes its name from the wild bull, to whose horns the martyr, St. Saturin, was bound by his heathen persecutors. The struggles of the brute having liberated it from the cords on this spot, a church was, in consequence, erected. Its interior is adorned with numerous pictures and inscriptions upon the walls.

ABOUT THE ARTIST: Thomas Allom (1804-1872) was born in London, England on 13th March 1804. He was articled to Francis Goodwin, an architect in 1819. He was to become a founder member of the R.I.B.A. (Royal Institute of British Architects - which is still the premier institution today). He is best know for his topographical drawings, so many of which were engraved on steel & appeared in many of the travel books of the time. He travelled extensively, not just in the UK & Europe, but further afield, covering such countries as Turkey & China. Collections of his work can be found in the British Museum and the Victoria & Albert Museum.

SIZE: Image size is 5 inches by 7 inches. Print size is 9 1/2 inches by 12 1/2 inches including white borders.

CONDITION: Condition is excellent. Bright and clean. Blank on reverse.

SHIPPING: Buyers to pay shipping/handling, domestic orders receives priority mail, international orders receive regular mail.

Please note: the terms used in our auctions for engraving, heliogravure, lithograph, print, plate, photogravure etc. are ALL prints on paper, NOT blocks of steel or wood. "ENGRAVINGS", the term commonly used for these paper prints, were the most common method in the 1700s and 1800s for illustrating old books, and these paper prints or "engravings" were inserted into the book with a tissue guard frontis, usually on much thicker quality rag stock paper, although many were also printed and issued as loose stand alone prints. So this auction is for an antique paper print(s), probably from an old book, of very high quality and usually on very thick rag stock paper.

EXTREMELY RARE IN THIS EXCELLENT CONDITION!