A corner for quiet contemplation Photo

Photographer’s Note

A short series of pictures taken in and around the cathedral of Saint-Front in Périgueux.

Saint-Front Cathedral is the cathedral of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Perigueux in the department of Dordogne. The Cathedral is named after St. Front, legendary evangelist of the region in the third century and whose relics rested in the cathedral until 1575.

It was built in the twelfth century in a style mixing the Roman and Byzantine influences. Like Saint. Mark's Cathedral in Venice, its plan is in the shape of a Greek cross with five domes and turrets and recalls that of Saint Sophia in Constantinople. However, it was not until 1669 that the church took the title of Cathedral from the nearby church of Saint Etienne, in the district of La Cité.

From 1852 to 1895, the cathedral was restored by Paul Abadie (and other architects). This restoration including enlarging the domes and adding the turrets that can be seen today. In truth, it's a genuine reconstruction of the domes that had originally existed. The cathedral also keep its original steeple of the twelfth century.

Abadie is the same architect who later will be selected to build the Basilica of the Sacred Heart in Paris, which is not without resemblance to Saint-Front Cathedral.

The three chandeliers that illuminate the interior of the cathedral were used to illuminate Notre Dame at the marriage of Napoleon III on January 29, 1853. The organ, built 1870 Merklin-Schutz was restored in 1998 by Pascal Quorin.

The cathedral has been listed since 1998 as a World Heritage Site in the context of the Routes of Santiago de Compostela in France.

Thanks to the French wikipedea web site for the above.

At the time of my visit the cathedral was undergoing further restoration work and the steeple was shrouded in scaffolding. I believe this work was due to be finished in November 2008.

Sanchia, besnard, Budapestman, gildasjan, papagolf21, pasternak, ChrisJ, jlbrthnn, saxo042, gunbud, ls7902, PixelTerror, amaryllis has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

mesutilgim (36803) 2007-10-27 0:39

Hi Stephen, my neighbour today
Very nice capture, full of sensitivity and good pov. Very well composed and nice notes as well. Amazing fact that there is allmost nill distortion. Very well light management and nice dot's of light on the walls.
TFS and have a nice weekend
Best regards
MESUT ILGIM

besnard (30656) 2007-10-27 0:41

Bonjour Stephen
Le format est bien choisi pour nous faire apprécier ce coin d'église avec les rayons du soleil qui font un clin d'oeil à la statue. Bonne réalisation.
Merci pour le partage et bon week-end.
Nicole

Sanchia (47) 2007-10-27 0:42

This is really good -- the light playing on the wall, the slightly smoky atmosphere within the stone walls of the cathedral, the incredible clarity of the stained glass window.

Budapestman (41886) 2007-10-27 0:44

Hi Stephen,
I like this splendid composition and the peaceful atmosphere, title is excellent. Details are very fine the clarity is superb. Beautiful shot, Well done! Have a nice weekend
George

gildasjan (23775) 2007-10-27 0:58

Bonjour Stephen
Magnifique travail cette lumière qui vient se projeter sur les murs.Bons cadrage et exposition.Une excellente photo par la lumière de ce vitrail.
Félicitations et bonne journée.
Amicalement
Gildas

wolf38 (12765) 2007-10-27 1:10

Hello Stephen. The title fits outstanding the photo. In the center the actually important is located, - a figure of Maria. Really a corner for meditation for humans, who want to escape the everyday life for a few minutes. With your photo you expressed this well. Best regards, Wolfgang.

papagolf21 (56353) 2007-10-27 1:46

Cher Stephen,
Je salue la maîtrise photographique à travers cette très bonne prise de vue.
Difficile, en effet, de saisir l'intérieur d'une église (détails, etc.) et surtout de conserver au vitrail toutes ses couleurs.
Un sujet parfaitement traité.
Bravo !
Amitiés.
Philippe

pasternak (13324) 2007-10-27 2:49

Very well seen, Stephen, I like the colourful light spot on the left wall coming from a stained glass window; nice to combine it with a different winow. I think some work on brightness/contrast wouldn't harm here, see WS.

Cheers
Alexander

[workshop] [compare]

ChrisJ (70203) 2007-10-27 3:19

Hi Stephen

Wow! A very under rated shot. I like the diagonal beam of light coming in from top right, & especially the coloured shadow on the bottom left wall of the cathedral, or perhaps it's a revelation? Tfs!

Fis2 (45799) 2007-10-27 4:00

Witaj Stephen!
Wonderful interior. Good frame and interesting light. I like the colors. Well done.
Nice sunday
Krzysztof

jlbrthnn (37913) 2007-10-27 4:50

Bonjour Stephen,
Très belle image sur la Vierge et le vitrail dont la lumière fait un tache colorée sur le mur. C'est une très belle prise.
Bonne journée et bon week-end
Cordialement
Joël

UnTrained (0) 2007-10-27 15:30

Hello Stephen,
good exposure, nothing overdone, all fine balanced and the window is excellent. The light beside the statue and on the left wall is very eyecatching.
Lieben Gruss, Ulf

gunbud (27851) 2007-10-27 20:13

Hi Stephen,
Very good light management renders beautiful colors and clear details to the lovely little shrine. The stained glass window lets in enough light to allow a radiant shadow oover the Blessed Virgin. Very effective composition.
Regards, Tom

ls7902 (6180) 2007-10-27 20:42

Hello Stephen,
I like the soft colors & lighting that I think fit very well with the subject. Great shadows by the statue of Mary & on the lower left wall from the stain glass window. The arrangement of chairs is nice too. Have a good weekend.

Best Regards,
Latiff

mrmike1935 (2036) 2007-10-28 6:35 [Comment]

Show Comment

evanrizo (456) 2007-10-28 8:45

Hi Stephen, your interior photos have very good light balance so the details come very good, the atmosphere here has the right mystic ton.
Have a nice evening.
Evan

PixelTerror (86088) 2007-10-28 9:04

Hi Stephen,
A nice interior view with well measured exposure in order to get good details in all areas of highlights and shades.
Have a nice evening JY

mrcrow (3989) 2007-10-29 5:51

this is where i would sit ..for a bit..to commune
nice atmosphere of open-ness and peace
beautifully shot and the lighting so well handled
that wall on the left reminds me of the maigret story..remember the series on tv

maigret comes into the office late

lucas..."patron..you are late"

maigret.."the wall was wet"

amaryllis (17475) 2007-10-30 8:04

bonjour
très belle photo de cet endroi de prières que tu nous montres avec le soleil sur la Vierge, et le reflet du vitrail dans le mur à gauche
on perçoit très bien les petites bougies allumées, c'est une belle photo pas toujours facile, mais là avec une bonne luminosité
juliette