The Apostle Jacob the Younger

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The abbey of Saint-Gilles is a commune situated in the Gard department of southern France, centered around the historic nucleus of the abbey that served as the initial stop for pilgrims traveling along the Santiago de Compostela route in Spain. The former abbey church was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage Sites list in 1998 due to its significance as part of the Routes of Santiago de Compostela in France. The west portal of the abbey church is renowned for being one of the most exquisite examples of Romanesque portals, embodying the characteristic style of Provençal Romanesque architecture. During the tumultuous French Wars of Religion, Protestant forces fortified themselves within the abbey, leaving it severely damaged. A testament to this period of iconoclasm can be observed in this high-relief sculpture, a replica of which is displayed on the west portal of the abbey church. The sculpture depicts Jacob the Younger, an Apostle, while other sculptures featuring Saints, Archangels, and Apostles adorn the facades of the church. These figures are quintessential representations of the formulaic, frontally posed high relief niche statues characteristic of southern French Romanesque art. Their elongated proportions create a visually appealing effect that is optimized when viewed at an angle from below as visitors pass through the portal.