Beau Pilier de la cathédrale d'Amiens, Gothic pillar at Notre-Dame Cathedral, Amiens, France
The Beau Pilier de la cathédrale d'Amiens is a massive buttress on the north side of Notre-Dame Cathedral with nine detailed statues carved into its stone. The structure combines practical support for the building with a showcase of Gothic artistic craftsmanship.
This support structure was built between 1375 and 1380 during the Hundred Years' War when Bishop Jean de La Grange commissioned it to reinforce weaknesses in the cathedral's north side. The work became necessary to maintain the building's stability and protect it from damage.
The carved figures on the pillar show the Virgin and Child, Saint John the Baptist, and members of the royal family, representing how sacred spaces were used to display political power alongside faith. This choice of imagery demonstrates how the church and secular rulers worked together in medieval society.
The original statue of Bishop Jean de La Grange is housed at the Musée de Picardie in Amiens, while a replica remains at its original location on the buttress. Visitors can see the structure from outside as they walk around the cathedral.
This buttress is the last remaining decorated support structure of its kind in France and shows early features of the late Gothic style. Its nine statues preserve examples of stonecraft executed at the highest level during the medieval period.
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