Description
South Porch, Central Portal (Last Judgment Portal)
Lintel Center - St. Michael
At the top of the lintel, angels emerge from a layer of clouds. Below them at left stand the Blessed looking upwards. Since the figure of Christ it the tympanum above faces the viewer, the Blessed are on the viewer's left, but on Christ's right. Next to Michael, an angel faces the Blessed. From right to left, there is 1) a crowned figure, 2) a bishop or archbishop with a crosier and 3) a tonsured monk and 4) a woman. Many of the blessed press their palms together in prayer.
The archangel Michael (halo, barefooted) stands at center. He holds a set of scales (partially broken) with a small, naked human figure in one of the balance pans. On the other side, two small demons are trying to tip the balance of the scale.
At right are the Damned. Beside Michael is a large hairy, naked devil, pushing the damned toward Hell with its claws. In the front row of the damned are (left to right) a bearded man in a pointed cap (a Jew?). a tonsured monk, a woman in fashionable 13th century garments, including a barbette (chin strap) and a tourette (flat tart-shaped hat) and a bishop or archbishop.
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.
