Description
South Porch, Central Portal (Portal of the Apostles)
Tympanum - General View
Christ (crossed halo) enthroned at the Last Judgment. He sits on a low seat at center displaying the wounds of the Passion. One side of his chest is bared, so the wound of the lance is visible. Christ rises his hand to display the wounds on his palms; his feet are bare so the nail holes are visible.
On either side are the Intercessors - the Virgin Mary and John the Evangelist (both haloed) . They sit on seats similar to Christ's. They raise their hands toward Christ, palms pressed together. (See Katzenellenbogen, pp. 84-6 for a discussion of the evolution of the concept of the Intercessors.)
The central figures are surrounded by angels holding the Instrument of the Passion. The angel kneeling at left holds the lance used to pierce Christ's side. The angel kneeling at right holds the whip and the column, symbols of the Flagellation of Christ (Matthew 27:30, Mark 15:19 , John 19:3). Above, angels emerge from clouds, holding (in veiled hands) the Crown of Thorns, the Cross, and the nails with which Christ was fastened to the Cross.
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.
