Saint-Jean-le-Thomas (canton of Sartilly, Manche) Church of Saint-Jean-Baptiste

    Overall the church dates from the mid 11^th century, despite a number of re-workings in the 12^th century. The walls retain traces of fine cubic bonding (10^th century).
Fragments of wall paintings, which probably covered the entire interior of the building, were discovered in 1964 on the south wall of the nave and restored in 1972. Two distinct sets can be discerned. The one, located on the tympanum of a portal walled up in the mid-12^th century, dates from the end of the 11^th or early 12^th century and is thus the oldest evidence of Romanesque painting in Basse-Normandie. The scene represented shows a conflict between two characters (Jacob fighting the Angel ?). The second set from the second half of the 12^th century covers part of the south wall of the nave. The scenes - the story of Cain and Abel - take place on two superimposed registers, separated by bands and tracery patterns.

Bibliography

- Subes, Marie-Pasquine. - Saint-Jean-le-Thomas, église Saint-Jean-Baptiste. In : Les Peintures murales de la Manche, 40 ans d'études et de restauration, Conseil général de la Manche, s.d., p. 116-121
- Musset, Lucien. – Normandie romane, Zodiaque, La Pierre-Qui-Vire, 1987, 2 vol., T. I, p. 304
- Les siècles romans en Basse-Normandie, n° spécial Art de Basse-Normandie, n° 92, Printemps 1985, p. 138