Description
The Miracles of the Virgin Window
Delaporte no. 9, Deremble-Manhes no. 38
Panel 7: Men pull a cart containing a large barrel
A large four-wheeled cart is parallel to the plane of the panel, heading toward left (panel 6), containing a large barrel held by ropes. In other windows at Chartres, such as the Zodiac window, such barrels were used to hold wine. A man riding on the cart holds a staff with a banner. The cart is being pulled by men rather than by animals.
This may depict building activity at Chartres, when the faithful were said to have pulled carts full of building materials and provisions for the builders up the hill toward the building site. In a letter, Haymo, Abbot of St.-Pierre-sur-Dives which describes how, in Chartres in 1144, children and adults dragged the carts bearing construction material for the Cathedral and brought building supplies and provisions to the site of the Cathedral to aid the reconstruction. (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).
Alternatively, it could show wine being transported later, possibly to encourage offerings to the cathedral.
Delaporte suggests that this forms one composition with panels 4, 5, and 6.
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.
