Art mérovingien
The advent of the dynasty mérovingienne in Gaulle (5th century apr. J. - C.) involved material changes in the field of the Art S . Architecture does not translate any more one desire to build robust and harmonious buildings. The sculpture does not regress at the point not to be any more but one simple technique of ornamentation of the sarcophagi, the altar stones or ecclesiastical furniture.
On the other hand, the rise of goldsmithery and painting on manuscript involves a resurgence of the Celtic elements of decoration, which, in spite of the Christian and cruel contributions, constitute the true bottom of artistic creation mérovingienne.
To the unit of the frank kingdom that carry out Clovis (465-511) and its successors corresponds the need for building churches, whose plan was most probably taken again that of the Roman basilicas. These churches, which comprised a wooden carpentry, did not resist unfortunately the fires, accidental or lit by the Norman pirates at the time of their incursions. The description left by the bishop Gregoire de Tours ecclesiastical History of the Francs of the basilica Holy Martin, built in Tours towards 472, makes regret the disappearance of this building which was the one of most beautiful churches mérovingiennes.
With Aix-en-Provence, Laugh and Fréjus, three baptistries, built on octagonal level and covered with a cupola on pillars, remains as principal testimonys of a very permeable architecture moreover to the Eastern influence (the baptistry of Laugh, in Alp-of-High-Provence, recalls that of Saint-Georges d' Esrah in Syria).
Extremely different from the provençaux baptistries, the baptistry Midsummer's Day (VI E century), with Poitiers, the form of a flanked square of three absidioles. It is probably about an altered ancient building, having undergone a great number of transformations, but which preserves in its decoration (marble capitals) a character mérovingien.
Among the crypts, very many because of the importance of the worship of the saints at that time, only remain those of Saint-Seurin of Bordeaux, of the St. Lawrence of Grenoble and the Abbaye of Jouarre (VII E century).
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