Description
South Porch, Central Portal (Last Judgment)
General View
On the tympanum, Christ at the Last Judgment. He sits, displaying the wounds of the Passion, between the intercessors - the Virgin Mary and John the Evangelist. They are surrounded by angels holding the Instrument of the Passion. In the middle of the lintel, Michael weights souls, with the Damned on the viewer's right and the Blessed on the left. Scenes of Heaven and Hell are depicted on the lowest register of archivolts. On the second register of archivolts are scenes of the dead arising from their tombs. The other archivolts show the choirs of angels.
On the trumeau is the figure of Christ, holding a book. On the left and right jambs are figures of the apostles, holding the instruments of their Martyrdoms.
The outer porch is supported on square pillars (not visible in this view), that contain bas reliefs of the Virtues and Vices and the Elders of the apocalypse. The archivolts on the outer edge of the porch contain angels and seated figures. In the gable, the Virgin and Christ Child sit in a pose called "The Throne of Wisdom." They are flanked by angels.
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.
