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Heritage classified

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Origin and history

The 16th century cemetery cross, located at Mas-d'Artige in New Aquitaine, is a listed historical monument. It consists of an octagonal granite barrel placed on a square base, surmounted by a metal knot connecting the barrel to the cross. The latter, carved on its two sides, presents religious characters and stylized floral motifs, including fleurs de lilies à volutes framer une quatrelobe centrale.

On the east side, the cross represents a Christ on a cross, surrounded by the Virgin and Saint John, while the west side features a Virgin standing in a niche with a braid, surmounted by a four-lob. The monument, inscribed by arrest in 1963, illustrates the funeral art of the Renaissance and the know-how of local stone tailors. Its original location in the cemetery highlights its role in the commemorative and religious practices of the time.

The structure, although partially altered by time, retains remarkable architectural details, such as the masonry base and bas-relief sculptures. These elements bear witness to the symbolic importance of the cemetery crosses in the villages of Limousin, where they served as both a spiritual landmark and an identity marker for the community. The current location, near the Aubusson road, suggests a desire to preserve the local heritage.

Classified as a communal property, this cross is a representative example of the funerary monuments of the period, combining late Gothic and renaissant influences. Its listing as Historic Monuments in 1963 allowed its conservation, although its exact location remains approximate according to available sources. Photographs such as Father Igor's under Creative Commons license help document his current state.

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