Vierge à l’Enfant, milieu du XIVe siècle, Cerisy-la-Salle (Manche). Photo : P.-Y. Le Meur ©Musée de Normandie — Ville de Caen

CAEN, FRANCE.- The Museum of Normandy presents Gothic masterpieces in Normandy - 13-15th century sculptures and gold work, on view through November 2, 2008. When we refer to the Middle Ages in Normandy, we think of the tutelary figure of William the Conqueror, duke of Normandy who became king of England, and the extraordinary adventure of his contemporaries in Sicily.

After Normandy was “annexed” to France in 1204, it really flourished artistically.

Between tradition and modernity, the 13th century saw an original Gothic style take over. All the cathedrals of Normandy were rebuilt in this new style. In this way, hundreds of churches, abbeys and chapels were built, converted or adapted to suit the tastes of the day.

The luxury, wealth and density of the decorative work on these monuments is outstanding. The sumptuous cathedral treasures of which few items survive are so precious that they give some idea of the original wealth. The statuary, mostly in Caen stone, offers a very full panorama of stylistic developments during the period. Stained-glass attained technical perfection and there were stained-glass windows everywhere along with mural paintings.

The aim of this exhibition is to show the amazing vitality of artistic output in Normandy during the three Gothic centuries, its creations and its adaptations to trends in the international Gothic movement.