Chartres West Exterior Slides 085

Chartres West Exterior Slides 085

Chartres, north side, center portal

TYMPANUM

• Mary crowned in glory beside Christ, with angels.

LINTEL

• The Dormition and Assumption of Mary. On the left, the apostles surround her bier; Christ receives her into heaven. On the right, angels bear her body to heaven.

JAMB FIGURES

Left:
• Elisha (Far left) - Shumanite woman beneath. [not visible here]
• 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.

• Center Figure: Saint Anne with Mary, Joachim with flocks underneath.

Right:
• Isaiah - hold flowering stem, the "rod out of Jesse." Jessee beneath.
• Jeremiah - with Greek cross
• Simeon - testified of Christ at the Presentation at the Temple, holds the infant Christ.
• John the Baptist - note coat of camel hair, and he points to the lamb of God. Dragon beneath.
• Peter - dressed as pope, the continuity with Melchizedek, his opposite on the left. He stands on the rock.
• Elijah (Far Right) - on his chariot of fire. Beneath Elisha. [not visible here]

INNER ARCH

• First archivolt: twelve angels
• Second archivolt: Prophets
• Third archivolt: Jesse Tree
• Fourth archivolt: Jesse Tree continues
• Fifth archivolt: Prophets
• Sixth and seventh archivolts: 44 seated figures with scrolls and books

Album: Chartres-Cathedral

Categories: Chartres-Cathedral

Tags: #Abraham #Chartres #Elijah #Elisha #france #Infant Jesus #Isaiah #Jamb figures #Jeremiah #John the Baptist #King David #Melchizedek #Moses #Saint Anne #Saint Joachim #Saint Peter #Samuel #Simeon #TCS-photo #Archivolt #cathedral #Center #date estimate #exterior #lintel #north side #tympanum

The North Rose and Lancet windows

The North Rose and Lancet windows

† 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.

†North side, lancets, left to right: True versus false sovereigns (restored)

• 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).

Album: Chartres-Cathedral

Categories: Chartres-Cathedral

Tags: #Aaron #Babylon #Blanche of Castille #Chartres #france #Infant Mary #Jeroboam #Jesus Christ #King David #Mary #Mary enthroned in glory #Melchizedek #Nuchadnezzar #Pharoah #Red Sea #Saint Anne #Saul #Solomon #TCS-photo #Win145 #Win145A #Win145B #Win145C #Win145D #Win145E #angels #cathedral #donors identified #doves #golden calf #kings of Judah #lancet window #minor prophets #north side #restored #rose window #stained glass #thrones #whole-windows

IMG 5220

IMG 5220

Chartres, North side, right portal

LEFT SIDE

INNER ARCH (peak to bottom)

• Second archivolt: lives of Sampson on the left

Left:

† Samson carries off the gates of Gaza.

Third archivolt: life of Esther (prefiguring Mary)

† Mordecai sends messenger with new degree permitting the Jews to defend themselves if attacked.
† Esther kneels before the king (note parallels with Judith, opposite);

• Fourth archivolt: Tobias, son of Tobit, who restored vision to his father as Christ would to Israel.

Left:

† Tobit blesses son before departure, with angel watching;
† Tobit sends son with letter to Gabelus;
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RIGHT SIDE

Chartres, North side, right portal

INNER ARCH

• Second archivolt: lives of Gideon on the right

† Dressed in armor (medieval!) he leads two Mideanites captive after defeating them in battle.

Left:

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Third archivolt: life of Judith (prefiguring Mary)

† Judith has cut off head of Holofernes, which servant places in sack.

Album: Chartres-Cathedral

Categories: Chartres-Cathedral

Tags: #Chartres #france #TCS-photo #cathedral #north side #restored #Right

P1020574

P1020574

original (4295078067)

†North side, lancets, left to right: True versus false sovereigns (restored)

• Win145D, donors identified, north side, lancet window, Solomon, Jeroboam, golden calf, idols
• Win145E, donors identified, north side, lancet window, Aaron, Pharoah, Red Sea

Album: Chartres-Cathedral

Categories: Chartres-Cathedral

Tags: #Aaron #Blanche of Castille #Chartres #france #Jeroboam #Jesus Christ #Mary #Mary enthroned in glory #Pharoah #Red Sea #Solomon #TCS-photo #Win145 #Win145D #Win145E #angels #cathedral #donors identified #doves #golden calf #interior #kings of Judah #lancet window #minor prophets #north side #restored #rose window #stained glass #thrones

P1110393

P1110393

Chartres, north side, center portal

JAMB FIGURES

Right:
• Simeon - testified of Christ at the Presentation at the Temple, holds the infant Christ.
• John the Baptist - note coat of camel hair, and he points to the lamb of God. Dragon beneath.
• Peter - dressed as pope, the continuity with Melchizedek, his opposite on the left. He stands on the rock.

Album: Chartres-Cathedral

Categories: Chartres-Cathedral

Tags: #Chartres #france #TCS-photo #cathedral #Center #exterior #north side #restored #sculpture