Abstract

The church of Notre-Dame d’Avioth (ca. 1260-15th century) is famous for its Recevresse, a Gothic building separate from the rest of the curch and dated to the 15th century. While scholars have focused on the meaning of the Recevresse and its functions, none of them have considered the connection between the sculptural program on the south portal and the role of the Recevresse at the time of the program’s construction. As I will show, the iconography of the portal was influenced by regional historical events, as well as by the function of the Recevresse – all of which echoed the faith and laws of the local community. These factors explain certain deviations and expansions from the scriptural accounts of the Virgin Mary and the Holy Family’s flight to Egypt.