Reading Response #1: Visiting the Saints
The title of the chapter, Visiting Saints, is a great representation of what the chapter is actually about. The chapter gives a clear description of the pilgrimage route to Santiago de Compostela. Along the route, pilgrims would stop at the churches that have been dedicated to saints. While reading, the chapter referenced six main attractions that drew the most attention from the pilgrims. Back then and still today churches are places where people go to remember the dead and experience hope of a miracle.
The churches have implied lines that help us see the movement of pattern throughout. Outside on many of the churches there are words and saying using lines. Some lines appear to be thicker or more definite then others. They thicker the line the more the artist is trying to help guide us in the direction he wants us to go. For example, in the chapter the Porte du Barry, was one of the earliest walled towns. There are many different lines patterns on the wall. Also, The Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer’s church I believe is an example of how the thin lines in the brick help play a part in leading your eyes to the top. All the art and shrines throughout the chapter are composed of different shapes. Each shrine has similar features like arches, pillars, and crosses but as a whole are all different shapes. The light within the churches was always dim and provided my candle. In the reading we see the shrine Saint Gilles put the candle light inside a red holder to provide a different illusion of light. The color was mainly located inside the shrines and on the relics. The colors that were mainly seen throughout the chapter were different shades of red and gold.
The shrines represent a religious memorial of a sacred saint that was worshiped. The relics and tokens that are taken from the shrine hold a deep meaning to the pilgrims. They allow the saint to be with the pilgrims at all times and still experience the power of the...