“ This tribune (photo opposite) is supported by a half-vault of wood, the arches of which abut against the stone corbels. At the outside corner, a console terminating in a flying angel forms a pendative, and is decorated with curious carving depicting a man in the dress of a 15th century burgess, having three heads.
One of his feet is bare, the other shod. On the opposite console is the figure of a man on horseback, probably Nicolas Fauvel, wearing the mayoral robes of Amiens. ”

“ These gardens are intersected by innumerable small canals fed by the Rivers Somme and Avre. The most important “hortillonnages” are at the east end of the town. Visiting is only possible in the long flat-bottomed boats with turned-up ends seen in the photo above.
Each morning in summer the boats go, loaded with fruit and vegetables, to the “floating market” of Amiens (photo below) .
The soil of these gardens is wonderfully fertile, fruit and vegetable crops succeeding one another unceasingly all the year round. ”

“ PAINTING OF OUR LADY OF PUY (1518) .
“Au juste poix véritable balance.” II.—Paintings of our Lady of Puy
The Brotherhood of Our Lady of Puy was a religious, artistic and literary society founded in the Middle Ages at Amiens, and which continued down to the 18th century. ”

“ To see it, the tourist should enter the courtyard of the City Fire Station, at the bottom of which, on the right, is a narrow passage leading to a tiny court, facing which is the curious façade of the house. Gothic-Flamboyant in style, it is richly decorated with Renaissance motifs (photos) .
A frieze of accolade-shaped arches with crockets runs along the building. Inside the arches, seven pure Renaissance medallions of men and women have been carved. ”

“ The doorway in the Rue Pingré is uninjured (photo above) . Part of the ornamental carving is of great delicacy, but the statues are modern. The door is of wood with Renaissance carvings. A square tower leaning towards the North flanks the doorway.
The interior of the church is beautifully proportioned and very simple in arrangement. The choir, slightly more modern than the nave, dates from 1478. The lateral chapels contain some 16th century stained glass and a reproduction of the Burial Scene dated 1506. ”

“ Choir Stalls
The stalls (G on plan) are of oak and were made by the wood-cutters and wood-carvers of Amiens (1508-1519) . They are in the Gothic-Flamboyant style, with Renaissance architectural and ornamental motifs.
It is impossible to praise too highly the perfection of even the smallest details of this woodwork, which is unrivalled throughout France. Especially worthy of remark is the consummate skill with which the joints have been concealed in the assembling.
To-day, 110 in number, the stalls extend the entire length of the choir aisles in a double row: high stalls and low stalls. ”

“ On April 4th, the Germans attacked again, determined to break through at all costs. Against the French front alone, 15 kilometres in length, eleven divisions were hurled. Crossing to the left bank of the Avre, they took the villages of Morisel and Mailly-Raineval from Debeney’s army, and threatened the railway from Clermont to Amiens, which was their objective. At Hangard, the British, shoulder to shoulder with the French, repulsed all attacks. Further to the north, they withdrew to the west of Hamel, and during the night were forced back to the Villers-Bretonneux plateau. ”

“ The triforium has lost that importance which it had in the early Gothic edifices. Here it is a narrow gallery running right round the church. In the nave it comprises, at each bay, two wide arches divided by two slender columns.
The windows are 52 feet high and of the same width as the arcades on the ground floor.
The original stained glass no longer exists.
According to the canons of Gothic art, all ornamental carving must be inspired by Nature. ”

“ On the lower portion of the pillar is a crowned king, probably Solomon.
The two sides of the great doorway are similar in design.
(a) On the jambs of the door:
To the right of Christ are the five wise virgins bearing lamps full of oil in their hands. In the lower arcade, a vigorous tree represents the Bible bringing forth good fruit.
GREAT DOORWAY OF WEST FAÇADE
(Cliché LL) .
“BEAUTIFUL GOD” STATUE ON DIVIDING PILLAR OF CENTRAL DOOR.
To the left of Christ are seen the five foolish virgins holding their lamps, reversed, while below is the “tree of evil” with withered trunk. ”

“ CHOIR AISLES.
(9 on plan)
LIFE OF ST. FIRMIN. to Herod’s messengers.—Baptism of Christ.—St. John preaching in the wilderness.
The very fine medallions on the basement complete the story of the saint.
The mausoleum (by Blasset) of Canon Antoine de Baillon backs up against one of the pillars of the first of the two bays. He is shown kneeling before Ecce Homo (13 on plan) . It will be noticed that the features of this Christ recall those of the Louis XIV. period, and in no way resemble the face usually attributed to Christ in the Middle Ages.
The finest sculpture is in the south aisle. ”

“ On the elbow-rests of the stalls and—alternated with clusters of leaves—on the pendentives of the canopy, subjects taken from the lives of the burgesses and artisans at the beginning of the 16th century (especially the handicrafts then practised) , fables (the Fox preaching to the Hens) and satirical or fanciful scenes are depicted. ”

“ In each niche, part of the Temple at Jerusalem is represented. In the two left-hand sections: Jesus and the buyers and sellers in the atrium and The Tabernacle. In the other two sections: The Temple proper (Sanctuary and Holy of Holies) . holding their traditional attributes, and represent (from left to right) : Justice, with sword and scales; Temperance, with clock; Prudence, with clock and compasses; Force, with tower, out of which comes a monster.
In a niche, above this basement, is the Cardinal kneeling before the head of St. John the Baptist. ”

“ The houses have kept their ancient aspect, and are curious for their wooden walls, sharply pointed gables, steep roofs with tiny dormer-windows, and daring corbellings overhanging the narrow streets and canals. The only means of access to the outside which some of them possess is a foot-bridge passing over the canal.
Turn to the right into the Rue St. ”

“ Exhuming the body.
4. Translating the remains of St. Firmin to Amiens.
The basement comprises thirteen carved medallions illustrating various episodes in the life of St. Firmin, while in the middle is seen an exceedingly fine recumbent statue of Adrien de Henencourt, dean of the chapter of Amiens, who died in 1530, and at whose expense the whole of the south enclosure of the choir was built. ”

“ Motor vehicles were seized, and Frenchmen residing in Amiens who had not been mobilised, were ordered to the Citadel. Two-thirds of them were eventually released, but about a thousand young men were sent away into captivity. They had scarcely left, when the Germans withdrew precipitately from the town. ”

“ The second gallery corresponds to the triforium in the interior.
Lastly, comes the great doorway (photo below) with its three large doors. On either side of the lateral doors are massive buttresses which gradually taper off, rising to the upper part of the façade. ”

“ The devices of these panels are as follows:
1. Painting (1518) . No. 390 (1911 edition of catalogue) : Au juste poix, véritable balance; fine Renaissance frame (photo above) .
2. Painting (1519) , No. 391: Pré ministrant pasture salutaire; Gothic-Flamboyant frame.
3. Painting (1520) , No. 392: Palme eslute du Seigneur pour Victoire. In the fine landscape with river, which forms the background, the city of Amiens is seen with its cathedral.
4. Painting (1521) , No. 393, greatly damaged: Le vray support de toute créature.
The other panels are more modern and do not offer the same interest. ”

“ What the Tourist should see
Do not omit: The Cathedral (pp. 9-36) especially the western and southern doorways, nave, stalls, and carving in the choir aisles.
Of great interest: Picardy Museum (pp. 40-45) .
Archæological curiosities: Façade of Theatre (p. 35) , Old Houses (pp. 47-56) , Churches of St. Leu (pp. 52-53) , St. Germain (pp. 47-48) and St. Rémy (p. 37) .
Picturesque sights: St. Leu Quarter (p. 52) , The Hortillonnages (p. 51) .
Walks: Hotoie Park (p. 55) , New Boulevards, and The Rue De Beauvais (p. 45) , whose ruins attest the violence of the bombardment. ”

“ During the same day (10th) , the British captured Proyart and approached Chaulnes.
280mm. GUN WHICH BOMBARDED AMIENS CAPTURED BY AUSTRALIANS. RANGE: 30 MILES.
From that moment Amiens was safe from further aggression, as the Germans, harried by the victorious Allied armies, retreated each day.
(Translation)
Twelve hostages chosen from the town councillors, and the Attorney General, will answer with their lives for the undertaking entered into by the Municipality that no hostile act will be committed by the population against the German troops. ”