Saint-Sulpice is a church in
ParisParis is the capital of France and the country's most populous city. It is situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
,
FranceFrance , officially the French Republic , is a country located in Western Europe, with several overseas islands and territories located on other continents. Metropolitan France extends from the Mediterranean Sea to the English Channel and the North Sea, and from the Rhine to the Atlantic Ocean...
, on the east side of the
Place Saint-SulpiceThe large public space at the Place Saint Sulpice, which is dominated on its eastern side by the church of Saint-Sulpice, was built in 1754 as a tranquil garden in the Latin Quarter of the 6th arrondissement of Paris.-Attractions of the square:...
, in the Luxembourg Quarter of the
VIe arrondissementThe 6th arrondissement of Paris is one of the 20 arrondissements of the capital city of France.Situated on the left bank of the River Seine, it is one of the central arrondissements of the capital and is notable for including the district of Saint-Germain-des-Prés – dominated by its Abbey founded...
. At 113 metres long, 58 metres in width and 34 metres tall, it is only slightly smaller than
Notre-DameNotre Dame de Paris is a Gothic, Roman Catholic Cathedral on the eastern half of the Île de la Cité in the fourth arrondissement of Paris, France. It is the cathedral of the Catholic archdiocese of Paris: that is, it is the church that contains the "cathedra", or official chair, of the Archbishop...
and thus the second largest church in the city. It is dedicated to
Sulpitius the PiousSulpitius the Pious or the Débonnaire was a 7th century bishop of Bourges. Born at Vatan , of noble parents, before the end of the sixth century, Sulpitius devoted himself from his youth to good works, according to his Vita and to the study of Holy Scripture.Austregisilus, Bishop of Bourges,...
. During the 18th century, an elaborate
gnomonThe gnomon is the part of a sundial that casts the shadow. Gnomon is an ancient Greek word meaning "indicator", "one who discerns," or "that which reveals."It has come to be used for a variety of purposes in mathematics and other fields....
was constructed in the church (see below).
The present church is the second building on the site, erected over a
RomanesqueRomanesque architecture is an architectural style of Medieval Europe, characterised by semi-circular arches, and evolving into the Gothic style, characterised by pointed arches, beginning in the 12th century...
church originally constructed during the 13th century.
Saint-Sulpice is a church in
ParisParis is the capital of France and the country's most populous city. It is situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
,
FranceFrance , officially the French Republic , is a country located in Western Europe, with several overseas islands and territories located on other continents. Metropolitan France extends from the Mediterranean Sea to the English Channel and the North Sea, and from the Rhine to the Atlantic Ocean...
, on the east side of the
Place Saint-SulpiceThe large public space at the Place Saint Sulpice, which is dominated on its eastern side by the church of Saint-Sulpice, was built in 1754 as a tranquil garden in the Latin Quarter of the 6th arrondissement of Paris.-Attractions of the square:...
, in the Luxembourg Quarter of the
VIe arrondissementThe 6th arrondissement of Paris is one of the 20 arrondissements of the capital city of France.Situated on the left bank of the River Seine, it is one of the central arrondissements of the capital and is notable for including the district of Saint-Germain-des-Prés – dominated by its Abbey founded...
. At 113 metres long, 58 metres in width and 34 metres tall, it is only slightly smaller than
Notre-DameNotre Dame de Paris is a Gothic, Roman Catholic Cathedral on the eastern half of the Île de la Cité in the fourth arrondissement of Paris, France. It is the cathedral of the Catholic archdiocese of Paris: that is, it is the church that contains the "cathedra", or official chair, of the Archbishop...
and thus the second largest church in the city. It is dedicated to
Sulpitius the PiousSulpitius the Pious or the Débonnaire was a 7th century bishop of Bourges. Born at Vatan , of noble parents, before the end of the sixth century, Sulpitius devoted himself from his youth to good works, according to his Vita and to the study of Holy Scripture.Austregisilus, Bishop of Bourges,...
. During the 18th century, an elaborate
gnomonThe gnomon is the part of a sundial that casts the shadow. Gnomon is an ancient Greek word meaning "indicator", "one who discerns," or "that which reveals."It has come to be used for a variety of purposes in mathematics and other fields....
was constructed in the church (see below).
History
The present church is the second building on the site, erected over a
RomanesqueRomanesque architecture is an architectural style of Medieval Europe, characterised by semi-circular arches, and evolving into the Gothic style, characterised by pointed arches, beginning in the 12th century...
church originally constructed during the 13th century. Additions were made over the centuries, up to 1631. The new building was founded in 1646 by parish priest
Jean-Jacques Olier-Early life:At Lyons, where his father had become administrator of justice, he made a thorough classical course under the Jesuits ; he was encouraged to become a priest by St. Francis de Sales, who predicted his sanctity and great services to the Church. He studied philosophy at the college of...
(1608-1657) who had established the
Society of Saint-SulpiceThe Society of Saint-Sulpice is a Catholic Society of Apostolic Life named for Eglise Saint-Sulpice, Paris, in turn named for St. Sulpitius the Pious. Typically, priests become members of the Society of St. Sulpice only after ordination and some years of pastoral work. Uniquely, Sulpicians retain...
, a
clerical congregationA congregation is a religious institute of Roman Catholics in which only simple vows, not solemn vows, are taken. In the canon law of the Roman Catholic Church, public vows are divided into simple vows and solemn vows...
, and a seminary attached to the church.
Work continued for about 140 years: The church was mostly completed in 1732; the chancel is the work of Christophe Gamard,
Louis Le VauLouis Le Vau was a French Classical architect who worked for Louis XIV of France. He was born and died in Paris.He was responsible, with André Le Nôtre and Charles Le Brun, for the redesign of the château of Vaux-le-Vicomte. His later works included the Palace of Versailles and his collaboration...
and Daniel Gittard, but the work was completed by Gilles-Marie Oppenord, a student of
François MansartFrançois Mansart was a French architect credited with introducing classicism into Baroque architecture of France...
, in 1714-1745.
The façade is an unorthodox essay of 1732 by
Giovanni Niccolò ServandoniJean-Nicolas Servan, also known as Giovanni Niccolò Servando or Servandoni was a French decorator, architect, scene-painter and trompe-l'œil specialist.He was the son of a carriage-builder at Lyon....
in which a double Ionic colonnade,
Ionic orderThe Ionic order forms one of the three orders or organizational systems of classical architecture, the other two canonic orders being the Doric and the Corinthian...
over
Roman DoricThe Doric order was one of the three orders or organizational systems of Ancient Greek or classical architecture; the other two canonical orders were the Ionic and the Corinthian....
with
loggiaLoggia is the name given to an architectural feature, originally of Italian design. They are often a gallery or corridor at ground level, sometimes higher, on the facade of a building and open to the air on one side, where it is supported by columns or pierced openings in the wall...
s behind them unify the bases of the corner towers with the façade; this fully classicising statement was made at the height of the
RococoRococo is a style of 18th century French art and interior design. Rococo rooms were designed as total works of art with elegant and ornate furniture, small sculptures, ornamental mirrors, and tapestry complementing architecture, reliefs, and wall paintings...
Its revolutionary character was recognised two decades later by the architect and teacher
Jacques-François BlondelJacques-François Blondel was a French architect. He was the grandson of François Blondel , whose course of architecture had appeared in four volumes in 1683 -Biography:...
, who illustrated the elevation of the façade in his
Architecture française, remarking, "The entire merit of this building lies in the architecture itself... and its greatness of scale, which opens a practically new road for our French architects." It has been modified by
Jean ChalgrinJean-François-Thérèse Chalgrin was a French architect, best known for his design for the Arc de Triomphe, Paris.-Biography:...
and others. Large arched windows fill the vast interior with natural light. The result is a simple two-storey west front with three tiers of elegant columns. The overall harmony of the building is, some say, only marred by the mismatched two towers; one, to the
neoclassicalNeoclassicism is the name given to quite distinct movements in the decorative and visual arts, literature, theatre, music, and architecture that draw upon Western classical art and culture...
design of
Jean François ChalgrinJean-François-Thérèse Chalgrin was a French architect, best known for his design for the Arc de Triomphe, Paris.-Biography:...
, was added shortly before the
French RevolutionThe French Revolution was a period of political and social upheaval and radical change in the history of France, during which the French governmental structure, previously an absolute monarchy with feudal privileges for the aristocracy and Catholic clergy, underwent radical change to forms based...
but its matching tower was never begun, and the former tower remains.
At either side of the front door are two enormous shells given to King
Francis IFrancis I , was king of France from 1515 until his death.Francis I is considered to be France's first Renaissance monarch. His reign saw France make immense cultural advances...
by the Venetian Republic. The two shells rest on rock-like bases, sculpted by
Jean-Baptiste PigalleJean-Baptiste Pigalle was a French sculptor.He was born in Paris, the seventh child of a carpenter...
.
Nineteenth-century redecorations to the interior, after some Revolutionary damage when Saint-Sulpice became a
Temple of Victory, include the murals of
Eugène DelacroixFerdinand Victor Eugène Delacroix was a French Romantic artist regarded from the outset of his career as the leader of the French Romantic school...
, that adorn the walls of the side chapel. The most famous of these are
Jacob Wrestling with the AngelJacob Wrestling with the Angel is a biblical story commonly depicted in art. The story appears in chapter 32 of Genesis and chapter 12 of the Book of Hosea...
and
Heliodorus Driven from the Temple.
Jules MassenetJules Massenet was a French composer best known for his operas. His compositions were very popular in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, and he ranks as one of the greatest melodists of his era. Soon after his death, his style went out of fashion, and many of his operas fell into almost...
set an act of
ManonManon is an opéra comique in five acts by Jules Massenet to a French libretto by Henri Meilhac and Philippe Gille, based on the 1731 novel L’histoire du chevalier des Grieux et de Manon Lescaut by the Abbé Prévost...
at fashionable Saint-Sulpice.
Another point of interest dating from the time of Saint-Sulpice serving as a
Temple of Victory is a printed sign over the center door of the main entrance. One can still barely make out the printed words ‘’Le Peuple Francais Reconnoit L’Etre Suprême Et L’Immortalité de L’Âme’’,
The people of France recognize the supreme being and the immortality of the soul. Further questions of interest are the fate of the frieze that this must have replaced, the persons responsible for placing this manifesto and the reasons that it is has been left in place.
The
Marquis de SadeDonatien Alphonse François, Marquis de Sade was a French aristocrat, revolutionary and writer. His works include novels, short stories, plays, and political tracts; in his lifetime some were published under his own name, while others appeared anonymously and Sade denied being their author...
and
Charles BaudelaireCharles Pierre Baudelaire was a nineteenth century French poet, critic, and translator. A controversial figure in his lifetime, Baudelaire's name has become a byword for literary and artistic decadence...
were baptized in Saint-Sulpice (1740 and 1821, respectively), and the church also saw the marriage of
Victor HugoVictor-Marie Hugo was a French poet, playwright, novelist, essayist, visual artist, statesman, human rights activist and exponent of the Romantic movement in France....
to Adèle Foucher (1794).
The Great Organ
The church has a long-standing tradition of talented organists that dates back to the eighteenth century (see below). In 1862, the current
organThe organ is a keyboard instrument of one or more divisions, each played with its own keyboard operated either with the hands or with the feet...
, constructed by
Aristide Cavaillé-CollAristide Cavaillé-Coll was a French organ builder. He is considered by many to be the greatest organ builder of the 19th century because he combined both science and art to make his instruments...
, was added to the church. It is Cavaillé-Coll's magnum opus, featuring 101 speaking stops, and is perhaps the most impressive instrument of the romantic French symphonic-organ era.
The church contains one of the world's finest and most famous organs, constructed by
Aristide Cavaillé-CollAristide Cavaillé-Coll was a French organ builder. He is considered by many to be the greatest organ builder of the 19th century because he combined both science and art to make his instruments...
in 1862, using many materials from the church's earlier French Classical organ built by Clicquot in 1781. The Grand-Orgue of Saint-Sulpice was at the time of its building one of only three "100 stop" organs in all of Europe. Its organists have also been renowned, starting with Nicolas Séjan in the 18th century, and continuing with
Charles-Marie WidorCharles-Marie Jean Albert Widor was a French organist, composer and teacher.-Life:Widor was born in Lyon, France to a family of organ builders, and initially studied music there with his father, François-Charles Widor, titular organist of Saint-François-de-Sales from 1838 to 1889...
(organist 1870-1933) and
Marcel DupréMarcel Dupré , was a French organist, pianist, composer, and pedagogue.-Biography:Marcel Dupré was born in Rouen . Born into a musical family, he was a child prodigy. His father Albert Dupré was organist in Rouen and a friend of Aristide Cavaillé-Coll, who built an organ in the family house when...
(organist 1934-1971), both great organists and composers of organ music. Thus for over a century (1870-1971), Saint-Sulpice employed only two organists, and much credit is due to these two individuals for preserving the instrument and protecting it from the ravages of changes in taste and fashion which resulted in the destruction of many of Cavaillé-Coll's other masterpieces. The current organists are titulaire
Daniel RothDaniel François Roth , is a French organist, composer, and pedagogue.-Life:Daniel Roth began his musical training at the conservatory of his home town Mulhouse...
(since 1985) and Sophie-Véronique Cauchefer-Choplin.
This impressive instrument is perhaps the summit of Cavaillé-Coll's craftmanship and genius. The sound and musical effects achieved in this instrument are almost unparalleled. Widor's compositional efforts for the organ were intended to produce orchestral and symphonic timbres, reaching the limits of the instrument's range. With five manuals— keyboards— and boasting two 32-foot stops, organists at St. Sulpice have an incredibly rich palette of sounds at their disposal.
Aside from a re-arrangement of the manual keyboards c. 1900, the installation of an electric blower and the addition of two Pedal stops upon Widor's retirement in 1934, the organ is maintained today almost exactly as Cavaillé-Coll left it.
I Grand-Chœur C–g3
---- |
| Jeux de combinaison: |
|
| Salicional |
8′ |
| Octave |
4′ |
| Cornet V (ab d1) |
|
| Fourniture IV |
|
| Cymbale VI |
|
| Plein jeu IV |
|
| Bombarde |
16′ |
| Basson |
16′ |
| Première trompette |
8′ |
| Deuxième trompette |
8′ |
| Basson |
8′ |
| Clairon |
4′ |
| Clairon doublette |
2′ |
Pédale C–f1
---- |
| Jeux de fond: |
|
| Principal |
32′ |
| Principal |
16′ |
| Contrebasse |
16′ |
| Soubbasse |
16′ |
| Principal |
8′ |
| Flûte |
8′ |
| Violoncelle |
8′ |
| Flûte |
4′ |
| Jeux de combinaison: |
|
| Bombarde |
32′ |
| Bombarde |
16′ |
| Basson |
16′ |
| Trompette |
8′ |
| Ophicléide |
8′ |
| Clairon |
4′ |
|
II Grand-Orgue C–g3
---- |
| Principal |
16′ |
| Montre |
16′ |
| Bourdon |
16′ |
| Flûte conique |
16′ |
| Montre |
8′ |
| Diapason |
8′ |
| Bourdon |
8′ |
| Flûte harmonique |
8′ |
| Flûte traversière |
8′ |
| Flûte a pavillon |
8′ |
| Quinte |
51/3′ |
| Prestant |
4′ |
| Doublette |
2′ |
|
III Positif C–g3
---- |
| Jeux de fond: |
|
| Violon basse |
16′ |
| Quintadon |
16′ |
| Salicional |
8′ |
| Viole de Gambe |
8′ |
| Unda maris |
8′ |
| Quintaton |
8′ |
| Flûte traversière |
8′ |
| Flûte douce |
4′ |
| Flûte octaviante |
4′ |
| Dulciane |
4′ |
| Jeux de combinaison: |
|
| Quinte |
21/3′ |
| Doublette |
2′ |
| Tierce |
13/5′ |
| Larigot |
11/3′ |
| Piccolo |
1′ |
| Plein jeu harm. III–VI |
|
| Basson |
16′ |
| Trompette |
8′ |
| Baryton |
8′ |
| Clairon |
4′ |
|
IV Récit expressif C–g3
---- |
| Jeux de fond: |
|
| Quintaton |
16′ |
| Diapason |
8′ |
| Bourdon |
8′ |
| Violoncelle |
8′ |
| Voix céleste |
8′ |
| Prestant |
4′ |
| Doublette |
2′ |
| Fourniture V |
|
| Cymbale IV |
|
| Basson-Hautbois |
8′ |
| Cromorne |
8′ |
| Voix humaine |
8′ |
| Jeux de combinaison: |
|
| Flûte harmonique |
8′ |
| Flûte octaviante |
4′ |
| Dulciana |
4′ |
| Nazard |
21/3′ |
| Octavin |
2′ |
| Cornet V |
|
| Bombarde |
16′ |
| Trompette |
8′ |
| Clairon |
4′ |
| Machine à grêle |
|
| Rossignol |
|
|
| Trémolo |
|
|
V Solo C–g3
---- |
| Jeux de fond: |
|
| Bourdon |
16′ |
| Flûte conique |
16′ |
| Principal |
8′ |
| Bourdon |
8′ |
| Flûte harmonique |
8′ |
| Violoncelle |
8′ |
| Gambe |
8′ |
| Keraulophone |
8′ |
| Prestant |
4′ |
| Flûte octaviante |
4′ |
| Jeux de combinaison: |
|
| Quinte |
51/3′ |
| Octave |
4′ |
| Tierce |
31/5′ |
| Quinte |
21/3′ |
| Septième |
21/7′ |
| Octavin |
2′ |
| Cornet V |
|
| Bombarde |
16′ |
| Trompette |
8′ |
| Clairon |
4′ |
| Trompette en chamade |
8′ |
|
List of organists
- Nicolas Pescheur ???? - 1603
- Vincent Coppeau
- Guillaume-Gabriel Nivers
Guillaume-Gabriel Nivers was a French organist, composer and theorist. His first livre d'orgue is the earliest surviving collection with traditional French organ school forms...
1640 - 1714
- Louis-Nicolas Clérambault
Louis-Nicolas Clérambault was a French musician, born and died in Paris , best known as an organist and composer.-Biography:...
1714 - 1749
- César-François Clérambault 1749 - 1761
- Evrard-Dominique Clérambault 1761 - 1772
- Claude-Étienne Luce 1772 - 1783
- Nicolas Séjan 1783 - 1863
- Louis James Alfred Lefébure-Wély
Louis James Alfred Lefébure-Wély was a French organist and composer.Lefébure-Wély played a major role in the development of the French symphonic organ style and was a close friend of the organ builder Aristide Cavaillé-Coll, inaugurating many new Cavaillé-Coll organs.He began to study music aged 4...
1863 - 1869
- Charles-Marie Widor
Charles-Marie Jean Albert Widor was a French organist, composer and teacher.-Life:Widor was born in Lyon, France to a family of organ builders, and initially studied music there with his father, François-Charles Widor, titular organist of Saint-François-de-Sales from 1838 to 1889...
1870 - 1933
- Marcel Dupré
Marcel Dupré , was a French organist, pianist, composer, and pedagogue.-Biography:Marcel Dupré was born in Rouen . Born into a musical family, he was a child prodigy. His father Albert Dupré was organist in Rouen and a friend of Aristide Cavaillé-Coll, who built an organ in the family house when...
1934 - 1971
- Jean-Jacques Grunenwald
Jean-Jacques Grunenwald , was a French organist, composer, architect, and pedagogue.- Life and Work :...
1973 - 1982
- Françoise Renet
Françoise Renet was an important French organist. She studied with Marcel Dupré , Maurice Duruflé , and Nadia Boulanger . For 40 years she was associated with the great Cavaillé-Coll at Saint-Sulpice %28Paris%29. In 1955 Dupré named her Assistant Organist...
1982 - 1985
- Daniel Roth
Daniel François Roth , is a French organist, composer, and pedagogue.-Life:Daniel Roth began his musical training at the conservatory of his home town Mulhouse...
1985 - current
The Choir Organ
The church is also home to a lovely choir organ.
"Built by Daublaine and Callinet in 1844, the Choir organ of St. Sulpice was restored and enlarged by Cavaillé-Coll in 1857 to provide the church with with a strong instrument capable of accompanying the large ceremonies of the Seminary. It was again restored in 1903 by Mutin and has been preserved in that condition to the present day." - JAV Recordings
This organ allowed C.M. Widor to compose his Mass for two organs and two choirs. Combining the Great Organ with the Choir Organ, he created a beautiful example of antiphony.
I Grand-Orgue
---- |
| Bourdon |
16′ |
| Montre |
8′ |
| Salicional |
8' |
| Flûte Harmonique |
8' |
| Bourdon |
8' |
| Prestant |
4' |
| Octave |
4' |
| Quinte (Mutin) |
22/3′ |
| Doublette |
2' |
| Plein Jeu III |
|
| Basson |
16' |
| Trompette |
8' |
| Clairon |
4′ |
|
II Récit expressif
---- |
| Flûte traversière |
8′ |
| Viole de Gambe |
8' |
| Voix Céleste |
8' |
| Flûte octaviante |
4' |
| Octavin |
2' |
| Cor Anglais |
8′ |
| Trompette Harmonique |
8′ |
| Clarion |
4' |
|
Pédale
---- |
| Soubasse (G.O.) |
|
|
The gnomon
In 1727 Languet de Gergy, then priest of Saint-Sulpice, requested the construction of a
gnomonThe gnomon is the part of a sundial that casts the shadow. Gnomon is an ancient Greek word meaning "indicator", "one who discerns," or "that which reveals."It has come to be used for a variety of purposes in mathematics and other fields....
in the church as part of its new construction, to help him determine the time of the equinoxes and hence of
EasterEaster is the most important annual religious feast in the Christian liturgical year. According to Christian scripture, Jesus was resurrected from the dead on the third day from his crucifixion...
. A meridian line of brass was inlaid across the floor and ascending a white marble obelisk, nearly eleven metres high, at the top of which is a sphere surmounted by a cross. The obelisk is dated 1743.
In the south transept window a small opening with a lens was set up, so that a ray of sunlight shines onto the brass line. At noon on the winter solstice (21 December), the ray of light touches the brass line on the obelisk. At noon on the equinoxes (21 March and 21 September), the ray touches an oval plate of copper in the floor near the altar.
Constructed by the English clock-maker and astronomer Henry Sully, the gnomon was also used for various scientific measurements: This rational use may have protected Saint-Sulpice from being destroyed during the
French RevolutionThe French Revolution was a period of political and social upheaval and radical change in the history of France, during which the French governmental structure, previously an absolute monarchy with feudal privileges for the aristocracy and Catholic clergy, underwent radical change to forms based...
.
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