SOLESMES  , a

village of western France on the left bank of the Sarthe in the department of Sarthe, 29 M . W.S.W. of Le Mans by road . In zolo a priory was founded at Solesmes and placed under the authority of the abbey of La Couture of Le Mans . Suppressed at the revolution, it was established as a Benedictine monastery in 183o . In 1837 it was raised to the rank of abbey and became a centre of learning, the music here was also famous . A nunnery was afterwards founded beside it, but both institutions were abandoned after the passing of the associations law in 1901 . The monastery, rebuilt at the end of the 19th century, forms a lofty mass of buildings on the river bank . Its church (13th and 16th centuries) is interesting only for the possession of two masterpieces of sculpture of uncertain authorship, executed approximately between 1490 and 155o . The most striking represents the burial of Christ and is sheltered by a stone structure, the front of which is beautifully carved . An arched opening in this front reveals the central group of eight figures surrounding the tomb, that of Mary Magdalen in the foreground being remarkably lifelike and expressive . The other work similarly enclosed represents the burial of the Virgin and is the later of the two in date and in the pure Renaissance style . Sculptures representing Jesus among the Doctors and other scenes are also in the church .