Capital - Figures and Monsters in Scrolling Foliage

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This capital, originating from the ancient Monastery of La Daurade, showcases a stunning bas-relief of figures and monsters entwined in lush scrolling foliage. The Musée des Augustins boasts an impressive collection of Romanesque sculpture, primarily composed of remnants from Toulouse's three most iconic religious buildings: the historic Monastery of La Daurade, the majestic Collegiate Church of Saint Sernin, and the awe-inspiring Saint Etienne Cathedral. It was the visionary choice made by the clerics responsible for maintaining these sacred structures that led to the construction of functional convent buildings, carefully organized around expansive cloisters adorned with simple or intricate sculpture. As the capital of a thriving county and a rapidly growing economic, political, and religious hub, Toulouse experienced an environment highly conducive to the emergence of an innovative art movement in the 11th and 12th centuries. The exceptional quality, remarkable diversity, and enduring longevity of this movement solidify Toulouse's position among the premier centres of Romanesque art. Consequently, the works on display at the Musée des Augustins serve as pivotal milestones in the history of sculpture.