Saint Denis de Paris

Saint Denis de Paris, Brabant (?), Early 16th century, walnut, traces of original polychromy. Musée du Cinquantenaire (Brussels, Belgium). Made with ReMake and ReCap from Autodesk.

In the 3rd century, St. Denis was sent by the Pope to Gaul to convert the Gentiles there. First bishop of Paris, he died decapitated a few years later. According to legend, he picked up his head and carried him from Montmartre, where he had been martyred, to the place where he wished to be buried. It was here that the basilica of St. Denis was erected, where the kings of France were buried.

For more updates, please consider follow me on Twitter at @GeoffreyMarchal.