The Church of St. John in Aix-en-Provence, situated at the corner of rue d'Italie and rue Cardinale, is a Gothic Roman Catholic church, the first in Provence. It was built in the 13th century, mostly in the 1270s.
The site was initially occupied in the twelfth century by a hospice and chapel of the Knights Hospitaller of the Order of Malta, under the jurisdiction of the priory of Saint-Gilles in Provence. The thirteenth-century church formed part of a priory of the same order situated in olive groves outside the city walls of Aix. From the thirteenth century it served as a burial place for the Counts of Provence.
In the 17th century the parish was incorporated within the city of Aix when the ramparts were extended to the south and the adjoining lands of the priory sold off to help create the quartier Mazarin. In the aftermath of the French revolution most of the internal furnishings, treasures and statuary of the church were removed or plundered and the church itself converted into a military storehouse. In the 19th century it was eventually restored to religious use as a parish church.
The church is currently under the ministry of a brotherhood of apostolic monks. The nineteenth century organ in Saint-Jean-de-Malte was replaced in 2006 by a baroque-style organ built by Daniel Kern. The interior of the church may be seen in Michelangelo Antonioni's 1995 film Beyond the Clouds.
Windows and stained glassEdit
Interior of Saint-Jean-de-Malte
The reopening in 1858 of the large window in the apse, blocked by Jean-Claude Viany for the installation of a large altarpiece in the seventeenth century, revealed traces of polychrome stained glass indicating that in the seventeenth century the church not only had monochrome grisailles but also coloured windows, with at least some of them depicting Saint-Jean-de-Malte himself. The windows in the church today date from the nineteenth and twentieth centuries.
The new window in the apse was completed in 1858 and was designed by several artists from Aix. In the upper quatrefoils are God the Father, crowned with a globe in his left hand as he delivers a blessing with his right hand. He is flanked by Ramon Berenguer IV, Count of Provence and Beatrice of Provence. In three smaller quatrefoils below are three knights hospitaller of Malta: Berenger Monachi (l.), Gerard Thom (c., founder of the order) and Hélion de Villeneuve (r.). The three pairs of windows below represent scenes from the life of John the Baptist: his meeting with the Virgin Mary; the baptism of Christ; and with Christ in a diptych. In the six panels below are Old Testament figures (from l. to r.): Abraham, Moses, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel and Daniel. At the base of the window are six thirteenth century coats of arms connected with the Order, including those of Provence, Malta, Aragon and Aix.
Other notable windows include the large rose window above the entrance to the church installed in 1896: the original rose window was blocked by Viany in the seventeenth century to make room for an organ. In 1984 an abstract window by Henri Guérin was installed in the southern transept. Its coloured blocks were designed to take advantage of the changing quality of sunlight at different times of day and liturgical season.
PaintingsEdit
Although in the seventeenth century the prior Jean-Claude Viany commissioned paintings from Gilles Garcin and sculpture from Christophe Veyrier and his nephew Thomas, some of which can be still be seen in the church, the lack of funds when the parish was re-established after the French revolution limited the further acquisition of paintings. A number of paintings, however, have come from disestablished churches or have been donated privately, including most recently the Crucifixion by Delacroix.
St Henry pleading with the Virgin for the souls in purgatory (1687), Jean Armelin
Commissioned for the Chapel of the Souls in Purgatory in Saint-Jean-de-Malte, it was the gift of Henry de Simiane de Lacoste, a knight of Malta, who is depicted as the donor.
The Annunciation and Death of the Virgin (1678), André Boisson
These are two of a series of six paintings of scenes from the life of the Virgin, commissioned for the chapel of the former Palace of the Counts of Provence. Two other paintings from the series can be seen at the Church of the Madeleine in the place des Prēcheurs.
This painting by the Flemish painter Finson, a follower of Caravaggio who lived in Aix between 1610 and 1616, was originally in the Chapel of Jesuits in Aix prior to the revolution.
Christ appearing to Mary Magdalen in the garden, The Miracle of St Blaise and Our Lady of peaceful rest (1690), Gilles Garcin
These three paintings, the first of which was damaged and only partially restored, were commissioned by Viany for altarpieces in the side-chapels of Saint-Jean-de-Malte.
The Descent from the Cross (1612), André Gaudion
Gaudion was born in Lyon, but settled in Marseille. He was active in Aix between 1612 and 1634. This painting was probably originally in a Franciscan chapel in Aix.
St Bruno at the feet of the Virgin (1663), Reynaud Levieux
Levieux was born in Nimes; he worked in Aix between 1663 and 1670. This painting, sometimes considered his best work, was part of the main altarpiece of a Carthusian chapel in Aix before the revolution.
The Descent from the Cross (1611), Martin Guillaume
A copy of a well-known Descent by Federico Barocci, this painting was originally in the chapel of the Black Friars (Pénitents Noirs) in Aix. It was purchased for the church in 1771 by Joseph-Félix Alphéran, who subsequently became prior of Saint-Jean-de-Malte.
This painting by the Avignon-based artist Nicolas Mignard, elder brother of the court portraitist Pierre Mignard, was originally in the Carmelite chapel of the fourteenth century Église des Grandes-Carmes, formerly one of the main churches in Aix and burial place of René of Anjou's entrails. Following the destruction of the Grandes-Carmes during the revolution, the painting was moved to the Church of Saint-Esprit on rue Espariat and then to Saint-Jean-de-Malte.
Christ on the Cross with the Virgin and St John, The Judgement of Solomon and The woman taken in adultery (1673), Nicolas Pinson
These three paintings come from the main parliamentary chamber in the former Palace of the Counts of Provence.
The Apotheosis of St Augustin, Michel Serre (1658-1733)
Born in Catalonia, Serre lived in Marseille from the age of 17. He became a prolific painter as well as a designer for the royal fleet. During the plague of 1720, he showed great devotion to those afflicted and distributed his fortune to the poor, later to die a pauper himself. This painting was originally in the Augustinian chapel off rue Espariat.
The risen Christ appearing to St Thomas (1614), Jacques Macadré
This painting was originally commissioned for the Église des Grandes-Carmes by Alexandre de Michaelis, a squire in Aix.[1]
St Roch, St Antony and St Sebastian, anonymous
This fourteenth century Florentine triptych is a recent acquisition.
Roux, Jean-Marie (1986), Saint-Jean-de-Malte. Une église de l'ordre de Malte à Aix-en-Provence, Édisud, ISBN2-85744-267-X
Guillibert, F. (1896), L'Église Saint-Jean de Malte d'Aix. Son histoire, ses restaurations, J. Nicot
Bourgeois, Fr. Daniel (2006), Grande orgue de l'église Saint-Jean-de-Malte, Association des Amis de Saint-Jean-de-Malte
Bouyala d'Arnaud, André (1964), Évocation du vieil Aix-en-Provence, éditions de Minuit, ISBN978-2-7073-0271-7
Castaldo, Inès (2011), Le Quartier Mazarin. Habiter noblement à Aix-en-Provence, Le Temps de l'Histoire, Presses universitaires de Provence, ISBN978-2-85399-789-8
Schnapper, Antoine; Gouzi, Christine (2010), Jean Jouvenet 1644-1717 et La Peinture d'Histoire à Paris (Expanded second ed.), Arthéna, ISBN2903239428
External linksEdit
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Saint-Jean-de-Malte (Aix-en-Provence).
Parish of Saint Jean de Malte
Description of the interior of the church
Blessing of the Calissons, description of the annual ceremony
The Very Hungry Frenchman: Provence. Episode 5 of this BBC culinary series, broadcast in March 2012 and featuring Raymond Blanc, showed the Blessing of the Calissons in Saint-Jean-de-Malte
Église, saint, jean, malte, church, john, provence, situated, corner, italie, cardinale, gothic, roman, catholic, church, first, provence, built, 13th, century, mostly, 1270s, locationaix, provencecountryfrancedenominationroman, catholicarchitecturearchitectur. The Church of St John in Aix en Provence situated at the corner of rue d Italie and rue Cardinale is a Gothic Roman Catholic church the first in Provence It was built in the 13th century mostly in the 1270s Eglise Saint Jean de MalteLocationAix en ProvenceCountryFranceDenominationRoman CatholicArchitectureArchitectural typeGothic architectureAdministrationDioceseArchdiocese of Aix en Provence Contents 1 History 2 Windows and stained glass 3 Paintings 4 Notes 5 References 6 External linksHistory EditThe site was initially occupied in the twelfth century by a hospice and chapel of the Knights Hospitaller of the Order of Malta under the jurisdiction of the priory of Saint Gilles in Provence The thirteenth century church formed part of a priory of the same order situated in olive groves outside the city walls of Aix From the thirteenth century it served as a burial place for the Counts of Provence In the 17th century the parish was incorporated within the city of Aix when the ramparts were extended to the south and the adjoining lands of the priory sold off to help create the quartier Mazarin In the aftermath of the French revolution most of the internal furnishings treasures and statuary of the church were removed or plundered and the church itself converted into a military storehouse In the 19th century it was eventually restored to religious use as a parish church The church is currently under the ministry of a brotherhood of apostolic monks The nineteenth century organ in Saint Jean de Malte was replaced in 2006 by a baroque style organ built by Daniel Kern The interior of the church may be seen in Michelangelo Antonioni s 1995 film Beyond the Clouds Windows and stained glass Edit Interior of Saint Jean de MalteThe reopening in 1858 of the large window in the apse blocked by Jean Claude Viany for the installation of a large altarpiece in the seventeenth century revealed traces of polychrome stained glass indicating that in the seventeenth century the church not only had monochrome grisailles but also coloured windows with at least some of them depicting Saint Jean de Malte himself The windows in the church today date from the nineteenth and twentieth centuries The new window in the apse was completed in 1858 and was designed by several artists from Aix In the upper quatrefoils are God the Father crowned with a globe in his left hand as he delivers a blessing with his right hand He is flanked by Ramon Berenguer IV Count of Provence and Beatrice of Provence In three smaller quatrefoils below are three knights hospitaller of Malta Berenger Monachi l Gerard Thom c founder of the order and Helion de Villeneuve r The three pairs of windows below represent scenes from the life of John the Baptist his meeting with the Virgin Mary the baptism of Christ and with Christ in a diptych In the six panels below are Old Testament figures from l to r Abraham Moses Isaiah Jeremiah Ezekiel and Daniel At the base of the window are six thirteenth century coats of arms connected with the Order including those of Provence Malta Aragon and Aix Other notable windows include the large rose window above the entrance to the church installed in 1896 the original rose window was blocked by Viany in the seventeenth century to make room for an organ In 1984 an abstract window by Henri Guerin was installed in the southern transept Its coloured blocks were designed to take advantage of the changing quality of sunlight at different times of day and liturgical season Paintings EditAlthough in the seventeenth century the prior Jean Claude Viany commissioned paintings from Gilles Garcin and sculpture from Christophe Veyrier and his nephew Thomas some of which can be still be seen in the church the lack of funds when the parish was re established after the French revolution limited the further acquisition of paintings A number of paintings however have come from disestablished churches or have been donated privately including most recently the Crucifixion by Delacroix St Henry pleading with the Virgin for the souls in purgatory 1687 Jean ArmelinCommissioned for the Chapel of the Souls in Purgatory in Saint Jean de Malte it was the gift of Henry de Simiane de Lacoste a knight of Malta who is depicted as the donor The Annunciation and Death of the Virgin 1678 Andre BoissonThese are two of a series of six paintings of scenes from the life of the Virgin commissioned for the chapel of the former Palace of the Counts of Provence Two other paintings from the series can be seen at the Church of the Madeleine in the place des Precheurs Theology 1744 1749 Michel Francois Dandre BardonThis painting was part of a series of allegorical wall panels originally in the historic buildings of the University of Aix opposite Aix Cathedral Louis Finson 1610 The Resurrection Michel Serre Apotheosis of St AugustineThe Resurrection of Christ 1610 Louis FinsonThis painting by the Flemish painter Finson a follower of Caravaggio who lived in Aix between 1610 and 1616 was originally in the Chapel of Jesuits in Aix prior to the revolution Christ appearing to Mary Magdalen in the garden The Miracle of St Blaise and Our Lady of peaceful rest 1690 Gilles GarcinThese three paintings the first of which was damaged and only partially restored were commissioned by Viany for altarpieces in the side chapels of Saint Jean de Malte The Descent from the Cross 1612 Andre GaudionGaudion was born in Lyon but settled in Marseille He was active in Aix between 1612 and 1634 This painting was probably originally in a Franciscan chapel in Aix St Bruno at the feet of the Virgin 1663 Reynaud LevieuxLevieux was born in Nimes he worked in Aix between 1663 and 1670 This painting sometimes considered his best work was part of the main altarpiece of a Carthusian chapel in Aix before the revolution The Descent from the Cross 1611 Martin GuillaumeA copy of a well known Descent by Federico Barocci this painting was originally in the chapel of the Black Friars Penitents Noirs in Aix It was purchased for the church in 1771 by Joseph Felix Alpheran who subsequently became prior of Saint Jean de Malte Our Lady of Mount Carmel Nicolas Mignard 1606 1668 This painting by the Avignon based artist Nicolas Mignard elder brother of the court portraitist Pierre Mignard was originally in the Carmelite chapel of the fourteenth century Eglise des Grandes Carmes formerly one of the main churches in Aix and burial place of Rene of Anjou s entrails Following the destruction of the Grandes Carmes during the revolution the painting was moved to the Church of Saint Esprit on rue Espariat and then to Saint Jean de Malte Christ on the Cross with the Virgin and St John The Judgement of Solomon and The woman taken in adultery 1673 Nicolas PinsonThese three paintings come from the main parliamentary chamber in the former Palace of the Counts of Provence The Apotheosis of St Augustin Michel Serre 1658 1733 Born in Catalonia Serre lived in Marseille from the age of 17 He became a prolific painter as well as a designer for the royal fleet During the plague of 1720 he showed great devotion to those afflicted and distributed his fortune to the poor later to die a pauper himself This painting was originally in the Augustinian chapel off rue Espariat The risen Christ appearing to St Thomas 1614 Jacques MacadreThis painting was originally commissioned for the Eglise des Grandes Carmes by Alexandre de Michaelis a squire in Aix 1 St Roch St Antony and St Sebastian anonymousThis fourteenth century Florentine triptych is a recent acquisition The Apotheosis of St John of God Jean Baptiste JouvenetThis early eighteenth century painting of the Portuguese saint was recently restored by the art historian Marie Christine Gloton 2 The Crucifixion 1820 Eugene Delacroix donated in 1998This early painting by Delacroix is based on a Crucifixion by Anthony van Dyck Notes Edit Base Palissy PM13001456 Ministere francais de la Culture in French The restored painting is reproduced as the cover illustration of Schnapper amp Gouzi 2010 References EditRoux Jean Marie 1986 Saint Jean de Malte Une eglise de l ordre de Malte a Aix en Provence Edisud ISBN 2 85744 267 X Guillibert F 1896 L Eglise Saint Jean de Malte d Aix Son histoire ses restaurations J Nicot Bourgeois Fr Daniel 2006 Grande orgue de l eglise Saint Jean de Malte Association des Amis de Saint Jean de Malte Bouyala d Arnaud Andre 1964 Evocation du vieil Aix en Provence editions de Minuit ISBN 978 2 7073 0271 7 Castaldo Ines 2011 Le Quartier Mazarin Habiter noblement a Aix en Provence Le Temps de l Histoire Presses universitaires de Provence ISBN 978 2 85399 789 8 Schnapper Antoine Gouzi Christine 2010 Jean Jouvenet 1644 1717 et La Peinture d Histoire a Paris Expanded second ed Arthena ISBN 2903239428External links Edit Wikimedia Commons has media related to Saint Jean de Malte Aix en Provence Parish of Saint Jean de Malte Description of the interior of the church Blessing of the Calissons description of the annual ceremony The Very Hungry Frenchman Provence Episode 5 of this BBC culinary series broadcast in March 2012 and featuring Raymond Blanc showed the Blessing of the Calissons in Saint Jean de Malte43 31 32 N 5 27 10 E 43 52556 N 5 45278 E 43 52556 5 45278 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Eglise Saint Jean de Malte amp oldid 1019602592, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
