Angel Holding a Chalice

Late 16th-century stone carving of an angel holding a chalice, from Brittany, Finistère, diocese of Léon. In this small area of Brittany the churches have parish closes, which are churchyards surrounded completely by a wall with a ceremonial entrance arch. They were built in the 16th and early 17th centuries at a time when the area had grown wealthy both from the hemp industry and trading over the Chanel. THe closes often contained an elaborate calvary, charnel house, and belfry. The most notable of these churches is the one at Guimiliau, which has an entire Passion cycle in stone. This angel is probably a niche figure from the main entrance arch of one of the churches near Guimiliau.https://digital.kenyon.edu/arthistorystudycollection/1243/thumbnail.jp