St Denis

Today is traditionally the day on which the Church has commemorated St Denis and his companions, three martyrs from the mid-third century. As the proto-martyrs of Paris their cult flourished in the diocese, and especially around the grave of the martyr bishop to the north of the city. This became the centre of the immensely influential abbey named in his honour, and which witnessed the birth of gothic architecture. Wikipedia has an account of his cult at Denis of Paris

I have posted about St Denis and his depiction in religious art in past years. Unfortunately not all of the images have downloaded but there is still a good selection to view. From 2011 there is St Denis and from 2015 St Denis and his companions

St Denis shown carrying his head after his execution from the Book of Hours of King Charles VIII, painted by Jean Bourdichon. His two companions can be seen at the bottom left.

Image: Wikipedia 

St Denis is probably the most famous cephalaphore saint, and artists and sculptors have depicted him carrying his head in various ways, and sometimes carrying his physical head but having on his shoulders a replacement spiritual one. 

The Last Communion and Martyrdom of St Denis

Commissioned from Henri Bellechose in 1416 by Duke John the Fearless of Burgundy for the Carthusian monastery of Champnol near Dijon. Now in the Louvre.

The spectacular use of blue and gold in the depiction of the vestments is presumably intended to evoke the imagery of the fleur-de-lys of the French monarchy.

The obvious brickwork in the tower on the left points to the Netherlandish origins of the artist. 

The figure of the executioner is interesting. In a painting of the martyrdom of St John the Baptist Rogier van der Weyden, and in a BL Royal MS, executioners are shown like this one as having rolled their hose down to their knees. Was this to avoid blood splatter on their clothing? The axe is typical of the type used for beheadings in Germany and Scandinavia until modern times, and more like a meat cleaver than the English type of executioner’s axe, which can be seen in the example on display in the Tower of London. This looks to be an artist drawing upon actual practice or experience.

Image: Wikipedia 

I will post separately about the plans to rebuild the north western tower of the abbey church - now designated a minor basilica and the cathedral of a diocese - which I wrote about in 2020.

St Denis and his companions Pray for us