Etudes menées sur les sculptures d'Auvergne en bois polychromé

In France, the Auvergne region has preserved an impressive number of polychrome wood sculptures. For those interpreted as dated between the 11th and 13th centuries, there are about 20 figures of the Crucifix, over 60 groups of the Virgin and Child in Majesty, and rarer saint figures, not including wooden sculptures sheeved in metal. While key prototypes held in museum collections have acquired a certain prestige, a whole corpus displayed in regional churches remains unknown to the public, little examined on a technical level. Since 2010, following a noticable shift of interest for these sculptures, the DRAC Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes has undertaken to define a corpus, and to direct a technical study of select sculptures. As cult figures, these objects have experienced continuous changes over centuries. The study proposes to contextualize the sculptures in their original church environment. The in-depth examination of a group of monumental crucifixes showing remarkable similarities of materials and techniques, asks for a re-evaluation of the working methods of early medieval sculptors and painters, with the possible use of models. The examination of groups of the Virgin and Child echoes this possibility of a standardized production, although noted differences between the sculptures put in question the concept of serial production.