Gift of bas-relief by Jules II vers 1503 (≈ 1503)
Pope offers bas-relief for the Saint-Michel Tower.
5 mars 1954
Historical Monument
Historical Monument 5 mars 1954 (≈ 1954)
Inventory listing of bas-relief.
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui Aujourd'hui (≈ 2025)
Position de référence.
Heritage classified
Bas-relief representing Saint-Georges terrorizing the dragon, embedded in the aisle of a window on the first floor: inscription by decree of 5 March 1954
Key figures
Jules II - Pope (1503–1513)
Lower relief donor around 1503.
Origin and history
The house at Pont-Saint-Esprit, dated from the 16th century, is remarkable for its bas-relief integrated into the facade. The latter, representing St.Georges on a horse terrorizing a dragon, was offered around 1503 by Pope Julius II. Originally, he decorated the Saint-Michel Tower of the city. The bas-relief, embedded in the light of a window on the first floor, still bears the traces of the pontifical weapons, surmounted by a tiara, now partially erased.
Classified as a Historical Monument by order of 5 March 1954, this house specifically protects this bas-relief, a symbol both religious and artistic. The exact location, 33 rue des Trois-Journées, remains subject to poor geographical accuracy (note 5/10), although GPS coordinates suggest a close address at 1 rue du Maréchal Louis Lyautey. No information is available on its current accessibility or contemporary uses (visits, rentals).
The historical context of Pont-Saint-Esprit in the 16th century was marked by its membership in Languedoc, a region under both royal and ecclesiastical influence. The bas-reliefs like St. George's often illustrated the struggle of good against evil, a recurring theme in Renaissance Christian art. The presence of such an element on a private house could indicate an easy or church-related sponsor, although the archives do not specify its identity.