Le remploi de portails sculptés dans les monuments de la France gothique

The reuse of sculpted portals during the Gothic period was not only common but also highly valued, with patrons and builders embracing half-century-old Romanesque or early medieval portals without perceiving them as outdated. This study reveals that 12th-century sculpture advanced independently of architectural progress, and the iconographic messages conveyed through these reused portals were particularly esteemed. By analyzing five major French ecclesiastical buildings—St. Denis Abbey, St. Bénigne Abbey in Dijon, Bourges Cathedral, Laon Cathedral, and Paris Cathedral—the research demonstrates that such reuses were integral to renewal projects, challenging assumptions about the perceived obsolescence of older artworks. The investigation focuses on the condition and significance of these portals, providing insight into the aesthetic and symbolic priorities of Gothic-era patrons.

Joubert, F. (2011). Le remploi de portails sculptés dans les monuments de la France gothique. Hortus Artium Medievalium, 17, 201–208. https://doi.org/10.1484/j.ham.1.102282