Description
Royal Portal, Left Archivolts- Right - Bottom
Zodiac and Labours of the Months
At left is the Labour of January. Janus bifrons sits under an arch. This figure has two faces; one (bearded, facing outward) represents the past, and the other (beardless, facing toward the left) represents the future. The figure sits behind a table and holds an unidentified object and a covered pot. Houvet says he is feasting.
At right is the Labour of October A man reaches up into a tree and appears to be hitting the branches with a stick. Houvet says he is gathering fruit (or nuts?). Notice that around his waist is a cloth that appears to be holding objects (harvested fruit?).
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.
