Description
South Porch, Central Portal (Portal of the Apostles)
Tympanum and Lintel - General View
Christ enthroned at the Last Judgment, displaying the wounds of the Passion On either side sit the intercessors - the Virgin Mary and John the Evangelist. They are surrounded by angels holding the Instrument of the Passion. The tympanum is separated from the lintel by a row of angels emerging from clouds. (Malê points out that this is also done on the Left Portal of the North Porch). In the middle of the lintel, Michael weights souls, with the Damned on the right and the Blessed on the left. (Since the figure of Christ faces the viewer, the Blessed are on the viewer's left, but on Christ's right).
Scenes of Heaven and Hell are depicted on the lowest register of archivolts. On the second register of archivolts are scenes of the dead arising from their tombs. The other archivolts show the choirs of angels.
Compare with corresponding depictions of the Last Judgment in in the West Rose Window (Deremble-Mahnes no. 143, Delaporte no. 176) and in the Vendôme Chapel Window (Delaporte no. 8, Deremble-Manhes no. 40A).
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.
