Description
The Miracles of the Virgin Window
Delaporte no. 9, Deremble-Manhes no. 38
Panel 8: A man talks to a child holding a round object.
A man in a skullcap stands at left, raising his hand (in blessing?) toward a small child standing at right. The child holds a round object, possibly a stone. Rays of light extend to the boy from the Hand of God reaching down from the clouds in the upper part of the panel.
Much of this panel is restored glass. The subject matter is under dispute. Delaporte suggests it is some kind of healing miracle (Delaporte, p. 193). However, A. K. Porter, quotes a letter from Haymo, Abbot of St.-Pierre-sur-Dives, which describes how, in Chartres in 1144, children helped adults to drag the carts bearing construction material for the Cathedral and brought building supplies and provisions to the site of the Cathedral to aid the reconstruction. Some children prayed for blessings or healing after pulling the carts. (Porter, Medieval Architecture, p. 151-5). (See also Adams, Mont-Saint-Michel and Chartres, p. , Branner, Chartres Cathedral, p. 93-94, and Coulton, p. 339-341, for Haymo's letter, and those of Hugo of Amiens and Robert of Torigny).
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.
