Description
Thomas the Apostle Window
Delaporte no. 46, Deremble-Manhes no. 23
Panel 9: King Gundophorus gives Thomas a chest full of gold pieces for building a palace
Panels 9-12 of this window show the first part of the story of King Gundophorus and Thomas. Gundophorus had brought Thomas to India as an architect to build a grand palace “in the Roman style.” The king gave Thomas a large amount of gold to fund the construction, and then left for an extended time. When he returned, he found that Thomas had spent the money aiding the poor and building churches instead of building a palace.
In the background is an arcade with carved capitals topped with crenulated walls, which indicates that the scene is taking place in a sumptuous interior. Thomas (halo, barefooted) stands at left). At right, center stands the king (crowned), looking toward Thomas, but pointing toward the right, where there is a large chest (table?) containing many round gold pieces.
The coins are marked with a cross. This might have been meant to indicate to the viewers that these were gold coins, since some of the gold coins in circulation at this time had a cross on them. It also might have been an allusion to the future use of the gold for Christian purposes - JV
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.
