Description
The Infancy of Christ Window
Delaporte no. 2, Deremble-Manhes no. 50
Panel 03: Nativity of Christ (Luke 2:1-7, Matthew 1:25)
In the foreground, Mary (halo) lies on a bed. She reaches toward the baby Christ (at center). She wears a white chemise and has a veil over her head- her bedcover is blue. The Holy Infant (halo with cross, in swaddling clothes) lies on an altar-like platform raised on two columns with capitals. Above are the heads of the ox and ass. They are references reference to Old Testament verses thought to be prophecies of the coming of the Messiah. Isaiah 1:3 says, "The ox knows his owner and the ass his maker's crib." There is a similar verse in Habakkuk. The apocryphal Protevangelium of James mentions only the ass. The Gospel of Pseudo-Matthew also says that an ox and an ass worshiped the Christ Child in the manger.
In the top right corner is the star of Bethlehem
At right Joseph sits (halo). His eyes are closed; his head is on his hand, as though asleep. The scene takes place in an interior with a hanging lamp. The upper frame of the panel serves as a beam from which two blue and white striped curtains are hanging.
This scene was particularly important at Chartres, since one of its most precious relics was the Shift that the Virgin supposedly wore at the birth of Christ.
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.
