Saint-Savin-sur-Gartempe. Le décor peint de la chapelle axiale (XIe-XIIe siècle)

A rare survival of 11th–12th century painted decoration on the axial chapel ceiling at Saint-Savin-sur-Gartempe reveals a sophisticated, programmatic use of geometric and vegetal motifs to guide the viewer’s gaze toward the apse. Multispectral imaging and stratigraphic analysis confirm that the scheme was executed in two distinct phases, with later additions carefully integrated into the original composition. This discovery challenges conventional views on Romanesque wall-painting techniques and underscores the site’s role as a transitional prototype for later medieval decorative programs.

Boisseau, C. (2018). Saint-Savin-sur-Gartempe. Le décor peint de la chapelle axiale (XIe-XIIe siècle). Bulletin Monumental, 176(2), 163–166. https://doi.org/10.3406/bulmo.2018.13278