Description
West Façade, Left Frieze, Life of Mary and Infancy of Christ, Right Side of Left Portal
15: The Annunciation to the Shepherds
(Luke 2:8-20)
This scene takes up two faces of a single capital. On each side of the scene, there is a haloed angel emerging from the clouds to announce the birth of Christ to several shepherds. Between the angels, six shepherds (headless) stand holding their shepherd's crooks. Most face the viewer, though the leftmost shepherd turns and raises his hand toward the angel. Heimann suggests the rightmost standing figure might be another angel: the figure is quite damaged so no final determination is possible (Heimann, p. 79). On either side of the scene stands a single animal (sheep or dogs?).
The prominence of this scene may be in accord with what Spitzer describes as the “local, rurally-based” following of the cult of the Virgin commemorated in the capital frieze (Spitzer, pp 141-2). - JV
The entire scene is quite damaged.
At right are figures from:
14: The Nativity of Christ.
At left are figures from:
16: The Three Magi before Herod.
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.
