Description
The central portal of the west façade has two doors separated by a column. The portal is recessed into the wall - there is a series of stepped archivolts and jambs which allow the recession to be incremental. There are no jamb or trumeau figures.
The original portal sculpture was destroyed in 1793 and only a few silhouettes remained. The present tympanum was carved in 1856-7 by Pascal. The subject of the tympanum is the Last Judgment and some of its iconography is copied from nearby Autun. Christ is at the center, in a mandorla with His arms outstretched. He is surrounded by the symbols of the four evangelists and by angels blowing trumpets. On His right (the viewer’s left), the blessed are received in the Heavenly Jerusalem. On his left (the viewer’s right) the damned are sent to Hell. On the lintel are scenes from the life of Saint Mary Magdalene.
