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Origin and history

The church of Saint-Martin de Lugaignac, located in the Gironde department in Nouvelle-Aquitaine, is a religious building built in the late twelfth century. Of modest dimensions (20 meters long by 6 meters wide), it consists of a single nave of three spans, vaulted in a broken cradle, and ends in the east with a square choir and a blinded apse covered with a vaulted cul-de-four. The walls of the nave were reinforced by foothills in the 17th century, while two side chapels and a western porch were later added. The church houses a bell dated 1557, as well as a stone pulpit from the late 16th century and a 12th century bentier, decorated with symbolic motifs like grape clusters.

The church gate, richly decorated, aligns twelve columns with carved capitals, some of which retain original geometric or plant motifs. The bedside, particularly remarkable, presents a series of novel modillons in excellent condition, illustrating various scenes: mythological animals, human figures engaged in daily activities or representations deemed "obscene" for the time. These sculptures, typical of Romanesque art, served as visual support for sermons, denouncing sins and vices to a predominantly illiterate population. The building, owned by the commune, was listed as historical monuments in 1925.

The modillons of the Saint Martin church offer a fascinating insight into medieval iconography and its didactic function. Among the most striking representations are an anal exhibitionist, a centaur associated with demonic figures, or a satyr and a woman, symbolizing carnal temptation. These sculptures, although sometimes shocking for modern standards, reflect the moral and religious concerns of the clergy in the Middle Ages. Their presence attests to a deliberate desire to educate and warn the faithful through a "stone sermon", in accordance with the directives of the Second Council of Nicaea (787), which affirmed ecclesiastical control over religious iconography.

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