Description
Theodore and Vincent Window
Delaporte no. 39, Deremble-Manhes no. 9
Panel 1: Donors (above)
To the right stand two women. The one at the extreme right holds a basket full of small round objects. A similar basket is on the ground at center. Both women look toward a man standing at right- the woman nearest him appears to be holding a small round object (a coin? A ball of thread?). The man gestures toward the women in a way that Delaporte says is similar to other scenes of sale and purchase shown in the Chartres glass. Delaporte says this is a weaver buying balls of thread.
Panel 3: Theodore sets fire to the pagan temple (below)
Theodore was a young Roman soldier stationed at Amasea. He was asked to sacrifice to the pagan gods, but refused to because he was a Christian. The judges gave him tome to reconsider, because of his extreme youth. Theodore reacted by burning down the temple. There are differing accounts of to whom the temple was dedicated- some say Mars, others say the “Mother of the gods”
Kidson groups Theodore and George with the local saints, because “…during the First Crusade they intervened with a celestial army to save a company of soldiers from the Beauce…. “(the area around Chartres). He also pointed out that Theodore’s head relic was at Chartres Cathedral and that his body was venerated at the nearby abbey of Joshaphat (Kidson, Chartres, p. 55).
Theodore (haloed, inscription S:TIODOR) stands at left, wearing a chain mail haubac with his coif drawn up over his head. He wears a belt with a sword in a scabbard. In one hand he holds a lance, in the other he holds a torch which he applies to the temple (at right) which is already in flames. The temple has a tall masonry base and a pediment in the front (perhaps the artist was portraying a classical temple)
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.
