Église Sainte-Marthe de Tarascon () or Collégiale Royale Sainte-Marthe is a collegiate church in Tarascon, France, dedicated to Saint Martha. According to a local tradition, the biblical figure Martha is buried there.
History Collegiate Sainte-Marthe was dedicated in 1197 and enlarged in the 14th and 15th centuries. It was built half-Romanesque in the 12th century and half-Gothic in the 14th century.
The tympanum and lintel of the Romanesque southern portal were severely damaged during the French Revolution.
The church spire was destroyed during Allied bombings on August 16, 1944. It was later rebuilt.
Features The crypt dates from the 3rd century. It houses the relics of Martha in a sarcophagus of the 4th century.
Church paintings include:
Painting by Charles-André van Loo: Mort de Saint François or Saint François d'Assise recevant les stigmates (1730) Sainte Marthe domptant la Tarasque (1730). Originally in the convent of the Capuchins and later in Eglise Saint-Jacques.
Paintings by Joseph-Marie Vien. Based on the narrative of the Golden Legend, they were initially part of a series painted for the convent of the Capuchins in Tarascon. Sainte Marthe recevant le Christ à Bethanie (1747)Base Palissy: La résurrection de Lazare (1747)Base Palissy: L'embarquement de sainte Marthe (1751)Base Palissy: L'arrivée de sainte Marthe en Provence (1748)Base Palissy: La prédication de sainte Marthe (1748)Base Palissy: L'agonie de sainte Marthe (1748)Base Palissy: Les funérailles de sainte Marthe (1748)Base Palissy:
Paintings by Nicolas Mignard: L'Assomption (1643)Base Palissy: Arrivée du Christ à Béthanie (1640)Base Palissy:
Paintings by Pierre Parrocel: Sainte Cunégonde et sainte CécileBase Palissy: Sainte Marie l'égyptienneBase Palissy: Le Christ sur la croixBase Palissy: Sainte Catherine de SienneBase Palissy: Saint Thomas d'Aquin Adoration des MagesBase Palissy: Adoration des BergersBase Palissy: L'AnnonciationBase Palissy: Notre Dame du peupleBase Palissy:
Painting by Philippe Sauvan: Saint Dominique (1789) Base Palissy:
References
Further reading
External links
, Tarascon Monuments and Museums, Official website of Tarascon's tourist office. Collégiale Sainte-Marthe / Tarascon Collégiale Sainte Marthe Entry at pays-arles.org