Description
The Passion Typological Window
Delaporte no. 59, Deremble-Manhes no. 37
Panel 22: The Pelican in Her Piety
In the medieval bestiary, the pelican represented piety. When the pelican’s young hatched, the young peck at their parents and are killed in return. On the third day, the mother pelican pecks its breast with its beak to draw blood. The blood pours over the young birds and raises them from the dead. This was thought to be a symbol of the Resurrection, and the pelican was thought to symbolize God the Father.
At right, a bearded, crowned figure sits on a throne: Delaporte identifies him as David. He holds a scroll with the inscription SIMILIS FACTUS SUM PELLICAMO. To the right a pelican with outstretched wings stands over a nest containing three baby birds. The pelican pecks at its breast and its blood flows down over the young birds. To the extreme left is the doorway of a structure, to the extreme right is stylized foliage.
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.
