Deux fragments de la clef de voûte à l'Annonciation

Each of the two keystone fragments features a figure. A woman, depicted in bas-relief, wearing a long yellow dress still showing traces of gilding, and an ample blue cloak tied under the neck with a cord, takes her place on the red background (dated 19th century). She raises her arms on either side of her body. On the same red background, the golden wing, radiating halo, upper garment, dalmatic and fleur-de-lys distinguish an angel on the second fragment, to the left of the key. The angel's main attribute - the fleur-de-lys - leaves no doubt as to the identity of the figure on the left: it is the archangel Gabriel. Facing the woman in the fragment on the right, he holds this flower between them, a symbol of virginity and purity. By opening her arms, the woman expresses either surprise or consent. The tear-off visible at the top of the archangel fragment raises two hypotheses: it could be a phylactery or the dove of the Holy Spirit. Both formulas were common in the 15th century, and there are also depictions of both components. The dynamic three-quarter view of the archangel, with his gestures directed at the Virgin, is met by the latter, depicted from the front in arrested movement. Despite the constraint of the circular frame, the legibility of the scene, which includes two protagonists with horizontal gestural communication between them, is very good, and the narration clear and effective. So, despite the mutilations suffered by this keystone, the scene is understandable: it's an Annunciation. Luke's Gospel (I 26-38) can be considered the essential textual source for this depiction. This representation is not surprising in a Cordeliers' church. Indeed, Cordeliers were instrumental in spreading and developing Marian piety from the 13th century onwards.