Eglise Saint-Martial

Inside St-Martial church, a 17th-century Vierge de Pitié (Virgin of Pity) draws attention for its originality. The group is enhanced by a violet-painted base. The Virgin sits on a simple, undecorated bench. She is dressed in a gilded gown with lace-embroidered collar and a mantle, which doubles as a veil and is pleated at the knees. The Virgin wears a headdress with a scalloped veil adorned with lace. This is a rare example of the Mother of Christ wearing a popular garment, as the headdress is from Auvergne. Her half-open mouth testifies to her pain and affliction. The workmanship of Christ is more clumsy: he lies on his Mother?s lap, his head turned to the left. His chestnut hair is crowned with a green twist, planted with thorns and rendered with iron nails. His left arm is stretched along his body.