Statue of an Apostle. North of Paris 12th century.

Important Romanesque appliqué statue representing an apostle sculpted in very high relief. The saint, depicted barefoot with a nimbate head, is slightly turned to the right, holding the open Book. Carved from limestone from the Oise region, a material favored for major religious construction projects in Île-de-France, notably the collegiate church of Saint-Denis, this sculpture stands apart from the classic Romanesque productions of the region. Certain details, particularly its atypical mustache, reveal a southern influence, most likely Spanish. This distinctive feature links the work to the statues of the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela, reflecting the artistic exchanges associated with this major pilgrimage to the Galician sanctuary.

The paths of Saint James of Compostela played a major role in spreading southern artistic styles throughout France and Europe, as illustrated by the remarkable capital of the church of Saint-Nectaire. Atypical in Auvergne Romanesque art, this sculpture represents Christ with a mustache and a bifid beard similar to that of our apostle, further demonstrating the influence of Santiago de Compostela.
Designed to be viewed from three-quarters, aligned with the saint’s gaze, our apostle statue is distinguished by the asymmetry of its robe. This technique is characteristic of the transition from late Romanesque to early Gothic, a period when sculptors began to experiment with perspective and movement rather than adhering to purely frontal and rigid forms. While the Spanish influence is evident, the sculptor also drew inspiration from the emerging Gothic construction sites in Île-de-France, giving this work a unique character. The sculpture exhibits a fracture at the neck, previously reinforced at the back with an iron support. A laboratory analysis conducted in 2025 revealed a gradual alteration of the stone over a long period, corroborating the proposed dating. The scientific report will be provided to the buyer.
Consulted references:
· La sculpture romane de la route de Saint-Jacques. De Conques à Compostelle, Marcel Durliat, 1990.
· Der Bamberger Dom aus kunst- und kulturhistorischer Sicht, Martin Naraschewski, 2023 (Influence of Santiago de Compostela).
· L'Art roman en France : architecture, sculpture, peinture, Éliane Vergnolle, 2003.