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Zodiac / Labours of the Months

Zodiac / Labours of the Months

Chartres, west side, left door, archivolt (bottom to top description)

• First archivolt (inner): January with two faces, Capricorn, February with warming self before fire.

• Second archivolt (outer): October with knocking down acorns, Libra, November with pig slaughter.

Album: Chartres-Cathedral

Categories: Chartres-Cathedral

Tags: #Chartres #france #TCS-photo #Archivolt #calendar of months #cathedral #Detail #exterior #Left #west side

Rose of France

Rose of France

† Window 145 - North rose: Rose of France glorifying the Virgin (restored)

Virgin in center with Infant Jesus. Surrounded by four doves, four angels, and four Thrones. These are followed by twelve kings of Judah, Mary's ancestors. The outer ring contains twelve minor prophets.

The window was donated while Queen Blanche was regent of France (circa 1230). The arms of France alternating with Castile are seen below the rose itself. The entire ensemble is a none-too-subtle bit of royal propaganda, with Mary (the Queen of Heaven) at the center of it all. Note too that the figures below the rose in the lancets contrast a legitimate righteous sovereign with corrupt, foolish, or fallen ones. Blanche seems to have wanted no doubt about how she ought to be considered.

Album: Chartres-Cathedral

Categories: Chartres-Cathedral

Tags: #Blanche of Castille #Chartres #france #Jesus Christ #Mary #Mary enthroned in glory #TCS-photo #Win145 #angels #cathedral #Detail #donors identified #doves #kings of Judah #minor prophets #north side #restored #rose window #stained glass #thrones

IMG 5460

IMG 5460

Window 176 - West Rose - Last Judgment (restored, detail)

• Center: Christ enthroned in glory, displaying his wounds. Four beasts and angels surround him.
• First circle: Twelve apostles, with Abraham's bosom at 12 o'clock, and the judgment (weighing of souls) at 6 o'clock. Note the angel to the left and devil to the right.
• Outer circle: Starting from the 12:30 position, and proceeding clockwise (each circle on the right is paired with one on the left). (1, 12) Instruments of the passion; (2, 11) angels blow trumps; (3, 10) the resurrected dead awaiting judgment; (4,5,8,9) resurrection of the dead (naked, having just come from their graves); (6,7) hell (at the bottom of the circle, naturally enough).

Album: Chartres-Cathedral

Categories: Chartres-Cathedral

Tags: #Abraham #Abraham's bosom #Chartres #france #TCS-photo #Win176 #angels #cathedral #Detail #devils and demons #hell #instruments of the passion #last judgment #restored #resurrection #rose window #stained glass #west side

IMG 4964

IMG 4964

• Window 145C - North side, far left lancet: Melchizedek standing over Nebuchadnezzar (true king over the false Babylonian pretender to world-lordship, worshipping the idol of his dream).

Album: Chartres-Cathedral

Categories: Chartres-Cathedral

Tags: #Babylon #Chartres #france #Melchizedek #Nuchadnezzar #TCS-photo #Win145C #cathedral #Detail #donors identified #feet of clay #lancet window #north side #stained glass #stone cut of the mountain without hands