Note 326 — Chapter X · Gothic Art in Normandy[314]

In the abbatial of St. Pierre-sur-Dives there is XII-century work in the ambulatory walls, in the piers and side walls of the nave, and in the lower parts of the façade towers. To the XIII century belong most of the choir’s piers and the apsidal chapels, also the beautiful chapter house. The transept then was put into harmony with the nave, and its tower built, which latter now is braced by clumsy obstructions within the church. In the XIV century rose the west façade, and the north tower was rebuilt. The XV century rehandled the high vaulting and clearstory, where appear die-away moldings and flamelike tracery. The abbey was founded by Richard II (d. 1020) and his beautiful duchess, Judith of Brittany. Its Romanesque abbatial was dedicated in 1067 by Archbishop Maurille in the presence of the Conqueror and Matilda. In 1107 the abbatial was burned by Henry I of England, who accused the abbot of siding with his elder brother, with whom he was at war, but in atonement the king contributed toward the reconstruction of the church; Congrès Archéologique, 1861, 1862, and 1908, p. 278; J. Pépin, Saint-Pierre-sur-Dives (Caen, 1879); Abbé Denis, Église de Saint-Pierre-sur-Dives en 1145 (Caen, 1869); Bibliothèque de l’École des chartes, vol. 21, p. 120, gives Abbot Haimon’s letter, which also was published in Rouen, 1851, by L. de Glanville.