LDS Scripture Commentary / Photos: Chartres Cathedral
Chartres, north side, center portal
INNER ARCH
• Eighth archivolt: Creation and Fall [bottom to top]
Note cruciform nimbus, identifying creator as Christ.
(2) Creation of day and night. Left figure likely not divine since no nimbus, but instead is the author of Genesis;
(3) Creation of firmament
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† 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.
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Chartres, north side, right portal, archivolt
OUTER ARCH
• First archivolt: months with accompanying activities: February warms by fire, March prunes vines
• Second archivolt: Aquarius, Pieces
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† Window 145 - North rose: Rose of France glorifying the Virgin (unrestored)
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.
†North side, lancets, left to right: True versus false sovereigns (unrestored)
• Window 145C - North side, far left lancet: Melchizedek standing over Nebuchadnezzar (true king over the false Babylonian pretender to world-lordship, worshipping idol of his dream).
• Window 145B - North side, near left lancet: King David standing over King Saul (the chosen king over the apostate king rejected by God, who dies via suicide in despair).
• Window 145A - North side, central lancet: Saint Anne holding Infant Mary. Beneath this are the arms of France.
• Window 145D - North side, near right lancet: Solomon over Jeroboam, who worships golden calf (wise king over the fool who worshipped idols and abandoned the LORD).
• Window 145E - North side, far right lancet: Aaron above Pharoah, covered by the Red Sea (true priesthood and power over the false).
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Chartres, north side, center portal
INNER ARCH
• Eighth archivolt: Creation and Fall.
(17) Driven from Eden; note angel with flaming sword;
(18) Adam delves; Eve spins while God blesses their work;
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Chartres, north side, center portal
INNER ARCH
• Eighth archivolt: Creation and Fall [bottom to top]
Note cruciform nimbus, identifying creator as Christ.
(11) Four rivers out of Eden
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Chartres, North side, right portal
INNER ARCH
• Second archivolt: life of Gideon
† Gideon wrings water from fleece;
Third archivolt: life of Judith (prefiguring Mary)
† Leaves town with servant;
• Fourth archivolt: Tobias, son of Tobit, who restored vision to his father as Christ would to Israel (continued from left half of arch).
† Tobias marries Sarah, and they pray in bedroom on wedding night;
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Chartres, North side, right portal
INNER ARCH
• Fourth archivolt: Tobias, son of Tobit, who restored vision to his father as Christ would to Israel.
Left:
† Tobit speaks with his wife;
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Chartres, north side, center portal
JAMB FIGURES
Left:
• Elisha (Far left) - Shumanite woman beneath.
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Chartres, north side, center portal
JAMB FIGURES
Left:
• Samuel - sacrifices a lamb.
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