Description
The Jesse Tree Window
Delaporte no. 1, Deremble-Manhes no. 49
Top section
According to the prophet Isaiah, Jesse would be the ancestor of the Virgin Mary, and therefore of Christ. (Isaiah 11:1 " And there shall come forth a rod out of the root of Jesse, and a flower shall rise up out of his root."), In the bottom register of this window (not visible) Jesse is asleep in a bed. From him, a tree-like vine grows. In the registers above, including the bottom two in this image, crowned men sit in the vine in the registers above; they are the kings who are the ancestors of the Virgin Mary, and therefore of Christ. Each of them is flanked by standing prophets, who are usually barefoot and holding scrolls. In the third from the bottom, the central position is occupied by the Virgin Mary, rather than a crowned male figure. At the top is Christ, (haloed) surrounded by seven doves with halos These are the Seven Gifts of the Holy Spirit, as enumerated in Isaiah 11:2, ‘And the spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him: the spirit of wisdom, and of understanding, the spirit of counsel, and of fortitude, the spirit of knowledge, and of godliness.’ Each dove is enclosed in a medallion with an inscription on the border : SAPIENTIA, INTELLECTUS, FORTITUDO, PIETAS, CONSILIUM, SCIENTIA, TIMOR.
Subject
Cathédrale de Chartres--Pictorial works.;Church decoration and ornament--France--Chartres--Pictorial works.;Church architecture--France--Chartres--Pictorial works.;Christian art and symbolism--France--Chartres--Medieval, 500-1500--Pictorial works.
