Description
Thomas the Apostle Window
Delaporte no. 46, Deremble-Manhes no. 23
Panel 1: Thomas examines Christ’s wounds (John 20:20-9)
After the Resurrection, Christ appeared to the Apostles when Thomas was absent. On hearing this, Thomas expressed incredulity. "Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the place of the nails, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe." After eight days, Christ appeared to all the Apostles, including Thomas. According to the Gospel of John, Christ told Thomas “Put in thy finger hither, and see my hands; and bring hither thy hand, and put it into my side; and be not faithless, but believing.”
In this panel, Christ (crossed halo, barefooted) stands at right on a semicircular elevation. A cloth is wrapped around his lower body and one shoulder; his legs and chest are bare. One of his arms is raised, the palm toward the viewer. Thomas (haloed) kneels at left, touching Christ’s wound with one of his fingers.
On either side are large panels of diaper work. Because of its shape and because panel 2 is obviously cropped, The Corpus Vitrearum suggests this panel was added in 1240, about 10 years after the completion of the rest of the window.
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.
