This carved, polychromed and gilded wooden altarpiece probably originally topped the high altar. It can now be seen on the altar of the fourth chapel to the north of the nave.
It belongs to the category of large altarpieces in wood or terracotta, of Flemish or Brabant origin, depicting the different scenes of the Passion with a multitude of small figures, and of which there are many specimens throughout France, but especially in the northern region. It is considered a real treasure, classified as a Monument Historique, and has always been the object of covetousness.
All these altarpieces belong either to the second half of the 15th century or to the first half of the 16th century. The one in Vétheuil seems to be from the first quarter of the 16th century. It presents the well-known layout that characterizes all the others, that is to say that the central part, dedicated to the great scene of Calvary, is higher (2m25) than the two lateral parts (1m30). The width of the upper part of the central bay is 0.92 meters.
From left to right are:
The Kiss of Judas (in the foreground, Malchus being struck down by St. Peter)
The Flagellation (Christ is tied to a polygonal column, with a simply molded capital)
The Carrying of the Cross (Simon of Cyrene helps Jesus; the Holy Women and Saint John follow in the background)
Calvary (one of the thieves, the one on the right of Christ, is covered with a large floating shroud, which is rare in representations of Calvary; at the bottom, Mary is collapsing between the arms of the Holy Women)
The Descent from the Cross (in the foreground, a second swooning of the Virgin)
The Entombment
The Resurrection. One of the sleeping guards in front of the sepulcher holds a crossbow.
Under the altar, one can admire a magnificent polychrome sculpture of Christ at the tomb. This work probably dates from the 16th century.
Thefts
The "Descent from the Cross" and the "Entombment", two elements of the Passion altarpiece, were stolen from the church of Vétheuil on February 19th 1966.
A second theft was committed on October 26, 1973. Five elements disappeared: the "Kiss of Judas", the "Flagellation of Christ", and the "Ascent to Calvary", the central part of the altarpiece with the exception of the "Christ and the Thieves", and the "Resurrection". The documentation relating to these thefts is kept at the Ministry of Culture and Communication and at the Central Office for the Fight against the Traffic of Cultural Goods. The data is integrated in the Interpol file "stolen works of art", created in 1998.
In 1999, the "Flagellation of Christ" was restored. The second restitution dates from 2007, it is the "Kiss of Judas". This second restitution will be made, not without difficulty and the newspaper "Le Monde" has reported all the events. Read the article of November 8 and thearticle of November 10.
A third restitution takes place at the end of 2012: two of the seven elements of the Passion: "The Descent from the Cross" and "The Entombment", 47 years after their theft. Read the article of January 21, 2013.
After the restorations, a restoration of the frame was necessary and it was necessary to restore the restored pieces to their original state while simulating the missing pieces with a plywood decoration.
For the altarpiece to be complete, three elements remain to be recovered, including "The Calvary", the most important one with its 2.20 m height. The search continues via Interpol.
To learn more about the DERAMAIX cabinet making workshop to which the restoration of the altarpiece was entrusted, click here.
