The Calvary of Plougastel-Daoulas in the arrondissement of Brest comprises a raised octagonal pedestal made from the yellow granite of Logonna-Dāaoulas, flanked by four thick arched buttresses. All the sculptural work is by the Maître de Plougastel except the horseman on the left of the crucifix which is by Millet. It is a listed historical monument since 1889. Calvaire
Description Below the top of the pedestal and running around it is a moulded cornice on which are placed a further series of statues carved from the bluish stone from Kersanton. Three crosses rise from the pedestal, the central cross having two crosspieces/bars and the crosses on the left and right bearing the two thieves crucified alongside Jesus. Around these crosses and on the surface of the pedestal are further statues. In total, there are 182 statues carved from Kersanton stone which are placed in groups to form 28 tableaux depicting scenes from the life of Christ. The Breton legend "Katell Kollet" features in one tableau when she is shown as one of those unfortunate souls writhing in the mouth of hell.
History of the calvary What was an "enclos paroissial" was hit by bombing during the 1944 Liberation of France and the Calvary is really all that is left. The parish church of Saint-Pierre, which had been built in 1870 to replace the existing 17th-century church, was left in ruins and ultimately rebuilt in 1950. The Calvary had been built between 1602 and 1604 to mark the end of the bubonic plague epidemic of 1598 and has been classified as a "monument historique" since 1889. The Calvary stands in the centre of Plougastel-Daoulas, just by the parish church. The name of the Calvary in Breton translates as the "Cross of the Plague".
It was on 23 August 1944 that the area was bombarded by the American forces as they advanced towards Brest. Several of the statues on the Calvary were badly damaged, as were the three crosses. John D. Skilton, an Army Officer and a curator at the Washington Museum in civilian life, was in Plougastel-Daoulas at the time of the bombing, saw the damage done and resolved to restore the Calvary. When back in the USA, he formed the "Plougastel Calvary Restoration Fund Inc" to raise the funds needed for the Calvary's restoration and, sufficient funds having been raised, the restoration started in 1949 under the direction of the Ministère des Beaux-Arts et des Monuments Historiques who used the services of the sculptor Millet.
Further restoration was carried out between 2003 and 2004. The Calvary is 10 metres high. The various scenes depicted are arranged along the lines of the cardinal points. The scenes relating to the birth of Christ and his burial are grouped on the eastern side, whilst on the northern side are scenes dealing with Christ's suffering. On the southern side the scenes deal with Passover, (the "Last supper"), Jesus' washing of Peter's feet and the "chemin de croix" (the path to Calvary). On the western side we encounter scenes of Christ's death and resurrection.
The depictions of the four apostles on the buttresses In the niches on the face of each of the four buttresses are statues of the four evangelists. They sit in armchairs writing at desks and three wear barettas or the hats worn by doctors. Each is accompanied by their traditional attribute. Matthew the Apostle appears with an angel, Mark the Evangelist with a lion, Luke the Evangelist an ox and John the Evangelist an eagle.
The west face of the Calvary
The west face of the Calvary deals with the "résurrection".
The western face is slightly larger and higher than the other three faces. It is dominated by a depiction of the resurrected Christ which is placed above a large arch with pillars on either side in which there is a form of altar. This arch interrupts and divides the cornice and to the left of this part of the Calvary there is a stairway leading up to the pedestal's platform. Priests would use this stairway to access the platform and deliver sermons. Another feature of this face of the Calvary is that there is extra space over each buttress so that individual statues can be placed on them.
The west facing cornice is in two sections, divided by the arch. On the left-hand side of the arch, after a statue of a bishop and Saint John and his attribute the eagle on the buttress, we have a scene showing Jesus' entry into Jerusalem. On the right hand side of the arch we have a depiction of the Adoration of the Magi.
The entry into Jerusalem. Jesus rides on an ass and is accompanied by five of his disciples, one of whom holds a book. A small figure emerges from the nearby tower and lays a rug in Jesus' path whilst another, his hands clasped together, stands in the door of the fortress of Jerusalem, here represented by a small crenelated tower. The adoration of the Magi. The Virgin Mary sits holding the baby Jesus and Joseph is behind her. The first king is on his knees, has placed his crown on the ground and offers his present in a sort of square chalice. The other two kings stand, their crowns on their heads and hold vases containing their gifts. One's costume is completed by a small cross and type of coif whilst the other has a cord around his shoulders from which a cross is suspended. The cow and the ass are at Joseph's side.
On the surface of the west face of the pedestal and from left to right we first see the devil himself, a frightening figure. He is trying to tempt Jesus who is appearing before Pontius Pilate. Next, we are shown the resurrected Christ who has emerged from the tomb. Here the date 1604 is inscribed. Next, we see the young Jesus engaged in discussions with the two lawyers. Then Jesus is shown holding the hands of two lost souls who he has rescued from the open mouth of hell ("Abandon all hope ye who enter here") from which flames emerge and other lost souls writhe in agony, including the legendary Kattell Gollet. A demon sits above the mouth orchestrating proceedings and another with horns is with the others in the mouth itself.
The devil, dressed in a monk's habit and with fearsome teeth, holds out some stones in his left hand and a globe in his right hand. He teases Jesus asking him to turn the stones into bread and telling Jesus, with reference to the globe, that he could be the ruler of the entire world if he chose to be so. Between the devil and the second image of Jesus we see Jesus wearing the crown of thorns, his hands bound and held by a soldier. He is appearing before Pontius Pilate who is seated and wears a turban. He touches his thumb with his left index finger to show that he is speaking. Then we see a second image of Jesus but without the crown of thorns. To understand this scene it is best to see the image of the devil and the image of Christ without the crown of thorns as apparitions and speaking across Pontius and that group.
The risen Christ. By the simple device of making Jesus Christ's statue much taller than the surrounding statues, the sculptor underlines Christ's importance. He emerges from the tomb with a "pilgrims's staff" in his hand whilst he gives a blessing with the other. He is surrounded by four guards, two seated and two standing. All four are asleep. The arch contains an altar and statues of Saint Peter, Saint Sebastian and Saint Roch. Sebastion and Roch were regarded as saints who specialised in warding off disease so their veneration was important. The people feared another epidemic and wanted it avoided. Peter holds his key, Sebastian is depicted with arrows whilst St Roch prays on his knees. On the buttress to the right is Saint Luke and his attribute the ox.
The south face of the calvary
On the south facing surface of the pedestal fourteen statues cover aspects of Jesus' journey carrying the cross to Calvary, the "Chemin de Croix" (Stations of the Cross). These are, from left to right, St Veronica holding up her veil which now bears Jesus' image, Saint John and the Virgin Mary following Jesus carrying the cross, Christ surrounded by soldiers two of whom are blowing horns, Jesus is helped by Simon of Cyrene, a man beating on a Tabor (instrument) and finally heading the cortège is a man on horseback. Along the cornice beneath these figures, and from left to right, the scenes deal with the Last Supper and Saint Peter washing Christ's feet watched by the other disciples. One soldier rests his leg on the cross pushing it down and adding to the weight which Jesus has to carry
Jesus carrying the cross. Looking closely at the six soldiers, the one near the bottom of the cross where it is dragging on the ground holds a shield and sword. Then the man with his leg straddling the cross and seeming to add to Christ' difficulty in lifting the cross, has a piece of rope in his right hand and in his left hand what appears to be a form of maraca to add to the rhythm of the music being played. The sixth soldier also appears to be pushing the cross down to add to the weight. The Last Supper. Jesus sits at the table with the apostles. Judas Iscariot sits at one end of the table holding a purse. One of the apostles holds a cup and another a knife. In the case of three of the apostles, the sculptor uses the device to show they are speaking by showing them placing the index finger of their right hand on the thumb of their left hand. The Washing of Feet. Jesus washes Saint Peter's feet whilst the other apostles look on and await their turn, their demeanor expressing a mixture of admiration and astonishment. Judas has now left the gathering.
The east face of the calvary This face of the Calvary deals with aspects of the birth and the death of Jesus. On the eastern cornice and after the buttress with the niche containing the depiction of Saint Matthew, we start with the Virgin of the Annunciation kneeling in prayer. Normally the Archangel Gabriel would appear in front of her but in this case, the sculptor places five further scenes before Gabriel appears. The Annunciation is thus interspersed with the visitation, Mary's marriage to Joseph, the nativity with Jesus being crowned, the circumcision and the flight into Egypt of Mary, Joseph and Jesus and finally the Archangel Gabriel completing the Annunciation story. He holds a flowered sceptre, the symbol of a celestial mission. He also holds a banner reading " Ave gratia plena". We then have the buttress with Saint Mark depicted along with his lion.
The Virgin of the Annunciation. Mary kneels at a prie-dieu her right hand resting on a book, her left hand resting on her chest. A vase of lilies is by her side. The Visitation. The Virgin Mary and her cousin Elizabeth face each other and hold hands in greeting. They discuss the miracles God has worked with them both. Mary's marriage to Joseph. A priest dressed in surplus, cappa magna and wearing a mitre takes the hands of Mary and Joseph whilst they take their vows. Joseph holds his staff in his left hand and it has miraculously sprouted flowers. The nativity. The baby Jesus lies between Mary and Joseph who are both kneeling. A small angel joins the two admiring parents whilst the cow and ass seem to be warming Jesus with their breath. The flight into Egypt. The Virgin Mary sits side-saddle on a donkey, her feet resting on a suspended board which has created a large stirrup. Jesus is on her knee wrapped in swaddling clothes. Joseph wears a hat and carries a baton. The Archangel Gabriel. When he finally appears he holds out a lily in his left hand and is raising the other hand.