LDS Scripture Commentary / Photos: Chartres Cathedral
Window 117 - 3rd right, clerestory, apse: John the Baptist (unrestored)
Bankers as donors. Annunciation to Zacharias, John and "Behold the Lamb of God," Baptism of Christ
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Chartres west side, right portal, tympanum
• First archivolt: angels.
• Second archivolt: Ptolomy, Astronomy.
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Chartres, North side, right portal
INNER ARCH
• First archivolt: twelve angels bearing sun, moon, and stars.
• Second archivolt: life of Sampson
† Samson carries off the gates of Gaza.
• Third archivolt: lives of Esther and Judith (prefiguring Mary) on left and right respectively
Left:
† Esther kneels before the king (note parallels with Judith, opposite);
† Mordecai sends messenger with new degree permitting the Jews to defend themselves if attacked.
• Fourth archivolt: Tobias, son of Tobit, who restored vision to his father as Christ would to Israel.
Left:
† Tobit speaks with his wife;
† Tobit sends son with letter to Gabelus;
† Tobit blesses son before departure, with angel watching;
† Tobias travels with dog (fidelity) and angel watching;
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Chartres, west side, left door, archivolt.
• First archivolt (inner): Taurus, June with mowing hay.
• Second archivolt (outer): Leo, September with treading grapes, Virgo.
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Chartres, north side, center, night illumination
JAMB FIGURES
Left:
• Melchizedek - wearing crown, with bread and wine (which he gave Abraham; prefigures the Eucharist). Lamb beneath.
• Abraham - looks up at angel halting the sacrifice of Isaac. Ram beneath.
• Moses - with brazen serpent on the pole, symbol of Christ's crucifixion. Golden calf beneath.
• Samuel - sacrifices a lamb.
• King David - carries instruments of the Passion, which his Psalm 22 foretold. Beneath lion of Judah.
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Chartres, north side, center portal
JAMB FIGURES
• Elijah (Far Right) - on his chariot of fire. Beneath Elisha.
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Chartres, north side, left portal
TYMPANUM
• Adoration of the Magi and then warned not to return to Herod.
LINTEL:
• Left: Nativity
• Right: Angel appears to shepherds.
JAMB FIGURES
• Left: Isaiah (prophet of Christ's coming, now headless), and then Annunciation (Gabriel treading on devil; Mary treading on serpent).
• Right Daniel (another prophet of Christ's coming, outermost) with the Visitation nearer the door (Mary on a burning bush, symbol of the Immaculate Conception and Elizabeth in the middle).
INNER ARCH
• First archivolt: ten angels, lowest two on dragons, the rest on clouds
• Second archivolt: four foolish virgins on left, four foolish on the right
• Third archivolt: bottom on each side contain the other two virgins for a total of ten.
• Third, continued: The four cardinal virtues and equivalent sins are on the left:
† Prudence (open book) with Folly underneath (woman eating a pebble);
† Justice (scales) with Injustice (falsify scales);
† Strength (mail coat)
† Temperence (dove) with Intemperence (uncovering the breast)
• Third, continued: On the right are the three theological virtues and equivalent sins:
† Faith (chalice receiving blood of the Lamb) with Infidelity (eyes bandaged);
† Hope (looks to heaven) with Despair (stabs self);
† Charity (clothes beggar) with Avarice (hoarding gold).
• To provide balance, a fourth virtue is added:
† Humility (dove) with Pride (falling headlong)
• Fourth archivolt: Twelve queens bearing scrolls that at one time bore their names; these are the fruits of the spirit as per Galatians 5:22-23.
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Chartres west side, right portal,
• First archivolt: Pythagorus
• Second archivolt: Priscian or Donatus
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