Window 014 - Temptation of Christ, Marriage at Cana, Blue Virgin (detail, restored)
• Upper half: Mary with the Infant Christ. The three panels containing Mary and Christ, along with the three lancet windows beneath the western rose, are the sole remaining example of the glass from the cathedral largely destroyed in the fire of 1194, dating to circa AD 1180. The face of Mary is modern; note how she is shaped almost throne-like as Christ sits enthroned upon her. Often called "Notre Dame de la Belle Verrière" (Our Lady of the Beautiful Stained Glass Window). The framing panels and remainder of the window are from the current cathedral--circa 1215 - 1220.
Bottom to top, left to right. • Row 1: Cobblers, donors of the window • Medallion 2: Apostles around Mary's deathbed • Medallion 3 (small): Jesus receives soul (small child). • Medallion 4: Mary's funeral (note the coffin held up at the top). • Medallion 5 (small): Angels with censers • Medallion 6: Mary placed in the tomb surrounded by apostles. • Medallion 7 (small): Mary's bodily assumption to heaven, flanked by two angels. • Medallion 8: Jesus crowns Mary as Queen of Heaven. • Medallion 9 (small): Angels bear the crown.
Window 065 - Clerestory, nave, south-west, lancet: Saint Mary of Egypt
Saint Mary of Egypt, meets Zozimus, is buried. == Window 066 - Clerestory, nave, south-west, lancet: Saint Laumer
Saint Laumer, abbot of Corbion. Lying on his death bed, and visited by Saint Malard. == Window 067 - Clerestory, name, south-west, small-rose: Abbot, unknown
Bottom to top, left to right. (The first 5 rows are modern as of 1872, marked '*').
• Row 02*: Peter arrives at a town; a saint is crucified; Jesus speaks to an apostle. • Row 03*: An apostle and two men; Two apostles pray while idols fall; Apostle sleeps on ground (see last panel of row 7). • Row 04*: Jesus speaks with apostle; Apostles speaks to a group; Saint praying is struck with clubs. • Row 05*: Two apostles speak; Apostle is lead to martyrdom; Apostle prays while menaced with a drawn sword.
SAINT ANDREW
Some panels have been replaced out of order, and some salvaged from the lower five rows; the story is easier to follow if the panels are swapped as indicated (** and ***).
• Row 06: Andrew prays before his cross (**); Andrew restores sight and gives a cloak (they meet in the first panel of row 13); Andrew gives communion (***). • Row 07: Slays serpent that vomits blood; Has proconsul's wife go to raise the child from the dead; Saint Peter and Saint John appear to Andrew and tell him of his coming martyrdom.
Window 030 - Saint Sylvester [Pope, contemporary of Constantine]
Note that there are eight small round medallions. Seven of these show Constantine writing one of the seven laws he gave to the Church. The final medallion (upper right) shows him watching the soul of Sylvester ascend; there is nothing on his scroll (has this finally silenced him? - GLS).
Bottom to top, left to right:
• Row 12: A dream in which Saint Peter and Saint Paul tell Constantine to recall Sylvester, who has fled due to the persecutions; Sylvester receives message from Constantine. • Center 13: Baptism of Constantine • Row 14: Sylvester and Constantine prepare foundation for Saint Peter's church in Rome; Sylvester and Constantine return by emperor's chariot.
† 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).
Window 059 - Symbolic Window, Typology of the Passion of Christ (unrestored)
NB: Read TOP to BOTTOM, unlike most windows. Some are modern (marked *).
• Row 12: (Bottom row): Blacksmiths as donors. • Row 11: Samson carries gates of Gaza; Christ's body being annointed; David slays lion to protect sheep [some argue for Samson slaying lion, but sheep make me think likely David. On the other hand, the other side panels are often of the same characters, so I suppose a repeat of Sampson would fit that pattern. - GLS] • Row 10: Elijah raises son of widow of Sareptha; Jacob blesses Ephraim and Manasseh; Elijah meets widow of Sareptha. • Row 09: King David with pelican feeding young on her own blood. • Row 08: Abraham takes Isaac to Mount Moriah for sacrifice; Descent from the Cross; Abraham is stopped from sacrificing Isaac. • Row 07: Jonah near Ninevah (*). • Row 06: Moses shows brass serpent; Adam collects blood at the foot of the cross (*); Israelites mark their doorposts with blood of the lamb (tau).
