Cloister and Frescoes

The cloister, built in the Gothic style, is an exceptional example of religious art.

The paintings that decorate its walls date from the beginning of the 15th century. They portray the life of the Virgin Mary in scenes depicting Savoy in medieval times.

There are also many sandstone sculptures portraying biblical figures, labours of the month, grotesques, and signs of the Zodiac.

While there are many painted cloisters in Italy, they are very rare in France.

Since Abondance was in the heart of the Duchy of Savoy, the Abbey no doubt welcomed artists from the Piedmont region in the 1430s to decorate the cloister. There are certainly stylistic similarities with other works attributed to Giacomo Jaquerio, who worked for Duke Amadeus VIII of Savoy, for example the abbey church at Sant’ Antonio di Ranverso near Turin and the castle at Fenis in the Aosta valley.

Only six of the twenty or so original paintings are clearly identifiable today.

With their ‘Italian’ influence, the paintings tell us a great deal about the situation at the beginning of the 15th century when the Duchy of the Savoy prospered geographically, socially and economically. These frescoes are therefore considered to be a true reflection of the period.

For more images, click on the photo above.