The Sculpture of Chartres Cathedral

By Margaret Marriage and Ernest Marriage

“The book ""Sculptures of Chartres Cathedral"" by Margaret Marriage is a comprehensive guide to the magnificent sculptures that adorn the Chartres Cathedral in France. The book provides a detailed account of the history of the cathedral and its sculptures, as well as an analysis of the artistic techniques and styles used to create them. The book is divided into several chapters, each of which focuses on a different aspect of the sculptures. The first chapter provides an overview of the cathedral and its history, while the second chapter explores the iconography of the sculptures and the religious themes they represent. The third chapter delves into the technical aspects of the sculptures, such as the materials used and the methods of construction. The fourth chapter examines the influence of different artistic styles on the sculptures, including Romanesque and Gothic. The book also includes numerous photographs and illustrations to help readers visualize the sculptures and understand their significance. Overall, ""Sculptures of Chartres Cathedral"" is an essential resource for anyone interested in medieval art and architecture, and a must-read for those planning a visit to the Chartres Cathedral... It deals mainly with the sculptures on the doorway, although there are views of the general architecture and a few subjects from the interior. Over 120 photographs,”-Print ed.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Porirua Publishing
• Release date: May 30, 2024
• ISBN: 9781991305114

Book preview

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© Porirua Publishing 2024, all rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted by any means, electrical, mechanical or otherwise without the written permission of the copyright holder.

Publisher’s Note

Although in most cases we have retained the Author’s original spelling and grammar to authentically reproduce the work of the Author and the original intent of such material, some additional notes and clarifications have been added for the modern reader’s benefit.

We have also made every effort to include all maps and illustrations of the original edition the limitations of formatting do not allow of including larger maps, we will upload as many of these maps as possible.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

TABLE OF CONTENTS 1

PREFACE 8

ILLUSTRATIONS 10

The West. 10

The North. 11

The South. 13

The East. 14

The Interior. 14

ERRATUM 15

INTRODUCTION 16

WEST FRONT 21

3. THE TOWERS, FROM THE SOUTH-EAST. 21

4. ANGEL SUN-DIAL. 22

5. WEST FRONT. 24

6. GABLE AND GALLERY. 28

7. WESTERN ROSE-WINDOW. 29

8. WEST DOORWAYS. 30

9. LEFT DOORWAY. 32

10. LEFT TYMPANUM. 33

II. LEFT SIDE OF THE ARCH—SIGNS OF THE ZODIAC. 36

12. RIGHT SIDE OF THE ARCH—SIGNS OF THE ZODIAC. 38

13. HARVESTER, REPRESENTING JULY. 39

14. SIGN OF THE HE-GOAT. 41

15. STATUES ON THE LEFT OF THE LEFT DOOR. 42

16. STATUE OF A QUEEN. 44

17. CARVED SHAFT. 46

18. PEDESTALS OF THE STATUES. 47

19. CAPITALS ON THE LEFT OF THE LEFT DOOR. 49

20. STATUES ON THE RIGHT OF THE LEFT DOOR. 52

21. CAPITALS ON THE RIGHT OF THE LEFT DOOR. 53

22. CENTRAL DOORWAY. 55

23. CENTRAL TYMPANUM. 56

24. STATUE OF CHRIST. 58

25. HEAD OF CHRIST. 60

26. STATUES ON THE LEFT OF THE CENTRAL DOOR. 60

27. HEAD OF A QUEEN. 63

28. STATUES ON THE RIGHT OF THE CENTRAL DOOR. 65

29. RIGHT DOORWAY. 66

30. RIGHT TYMPANUM. 68

31. MUSIC. 70

32. CAPITALS ON THE LEFT OF THE RIGHT DOOR. 70

33. STATUES ON THE LEFT OF THE RIGHT DOOR. 73

34. STATUETTE ON THE DOOR-JAMB. 75

35. CAPITALS ON THE RIGHT OF THE RIGHT DOOR. 77

36. STATUES ON THE RIGHT OF THE RIGHT DOOR. 78

37. HEAD OF A STATUE. 79

THE NORTH 82

38 NORTH TRANSEPT. 82

39. FLYING BUTTRESSES OF THE NAVE. 83

40. BUTTRESSES. 85

41. STATUE OF AN ABBOT. 86

42. STATUE OF AN ABBOT. 88

43. NORTH PORCH FROM THE WEST. 89

44. NORTH PORCH, FRONT VIEW. 90

45. LEFT BAY. 93

46. PLINTHS OF THE PILLARS OF THE LEFT BAY. (a) LEFT. (b) RIGHT. 94

47. STATUETTES OF THE ACTIVE LIFE AND THE HEAVENLY BEATITUDES. 96

48. TWO STATUETTES OF THE ACTIVE LIFE. 98

49. THE CONTEMPLATIVE LIFE AND THE BEATITUDES. 99

50. TWO STATUETTES OF THE CONTEMPLATIVE LIFE, AND TWO BEATITUDES. 102

51. VIEW IN THE PORCH, LOOKING EAST. 104

52. PEDESTALS OF THE STATUES ON THE LEFT OF THE LEFT DOOR. 107

53. STATUES ON THE RIGHT OF THE LEFT DOOR. 108

54. LEFT TYMPANUM. 109

55. CENTRAL BAY. 111

56. STATUES ON THE LEFT OF THE CENTRAL BAY. 112

57. STATUES ON THE RIGHT OF THE CENTRAL BAY. 114

58. PEDESTALS AND PLINTHS OF THE PILLARS OF THE CENTRAL BAY. (a) LEFT. (b) RIGHT. 117

59. CENTRAL BAY: THE CREATION (LEFT SIDE OF ARCH). 120

60. THE CREATION (CENTRE OF ARCH). 120

61. CREATION (RIGHT SIDE OF ARCH). 121

62. SCENES FROM THE CREATION: THE TEMPTATION. 123

63. SCENES FROM THE CREATION: THE FALL. 125

64. SCENES FROM THE CREATION. THE EXPULSION. 126

65. CENTRAL DOORWAY. 127

66. TRUMEAU OF THE CENTRAL DOOR. 129

67. TYMPANUM OF THE CENTRAL DOORWAY. 131

68. LEFT SIDE OF THE CENTRAL DOOR. 132

69. STATUES OF THE PATRIARCHS (LEFT OF CENTRAL DOOR). 134

70. HEADS OF SAMUEL AND DAVID. 136

71. RIGHT SIDE OF THE CENTRAL DOOR. 137

72. HEAD OF JEREMIAH. 139

73. HEADS OF JOHN THE BAPTIST AND PETER. 141

74. DRAGON UNDER JOHN THE BAPTIST. 143

75. RIGHT BAY. 145

76. STATUES ON THE LEFT OF THE RIGHT BAY. 146

77. PEDESTALS OF THE STATUES ON THE RIGHT BAY. (a) Left. (b) Right. 147

78. LABOURS OF THE MONTHS (LEFT SIDE OF THE ARCH). 150

79. LABOURS OF THE MONTHS (RIGHT SIDE OF THE ARCH). 151

80. RIGHT SIDE OF THE RIGHT DOOR. 154

81. STATUES ON THE RIGHT OF THE RIGHT DOOR. 155

82. PEDESTAL OF THE STATUE OF JOSEPH. 158

83. LINTEL. 159

84. RIGHT TYMPANUM. 160

85. HEAD OF SOLOMON. 162

86. LEFT SIDE OF THE ARCH. 163

87. RIGHT SIDE OF THE ARCH. 165

88. STATUES OF ST. POTENTIAN AND ST. MODESTA. 167

89. HEAD OF ST. MODESTA. 169

90. PEDESTALS OF ST. POTENTIAN AND ST. MODESTA. 170

91. VINE. 171

92. SPRAYS OF COLUMBINE AND BUTTERCUP. 172

93. SPRAY OF IVY. 174

THE SOUTH 176

94. SOUTH TRANSEPT. 176

95. SOUTH PORCH. 177

96. LEFT BAY. 180

97. LEFT TYMPANUM. 181

98. STATUES ON THE LEFT OF THE LEFT DOOR. 184

99. STATUES ON THE RIGHT OF THE LEFT DOOR. 184

100. MARTYRDOMS. 186

101. MARTYRDOMS. 189

102. CENTRAL DOORWAY. 190

103. CENTRAL TYMPANUM, THE LAST JUDGMENT. 192

104. THE BLESSED. 196

105. THE DAMNED. 196

106. STATUES ON THE LEFT OF THE CENTRAL DOOR. 197

107. HEAD OF ST. PHILIP. 199

108. TRUMEAU OF THE CENTRAL DOOR, AND STATUES ON THE RIGHT. 201

109. HEAD OF CHRIST. 202

110. DETAIL BETWEEN THE CENTRAL AND RIGHT BAYS. 204

111. RIGHT TYMPANUM. 205

112. STATUES ON THE LEFT OF THE RIGHT DOOR. 207

113. STATUES ON THE RIGHT OF THE RIGHT DOOR. 208

THE EAST 211

114. THE APSE 211

115. FLYING-BUTTRESSES OF THE APSE. 212

THE INTERIOR 214

116. NAVE AND CHOIR. 214

117. SOUTH AMBULATORY. 215

118. CHOIR SCREEN: THE CIRCUMCISION AND THE ADORATION OF THE MAGI. 217

119. CHOIR SCREEN: THE WOMAN TAKEN IN ADULTERY. 219

120. CHOIR SCREEN: THE ASSUMPTION AND CORONATION OF THE VIRGIN. 220

BIBLIOGRAPHY. 223

THE SCULPTURES OF CHARTRES CATHEDRAL

BY

MARGARET AND ERNEST MARRIAGE

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PREFACE

SO much has been written about the cathedral of Chartres that it may seem superfluous to add another book to the list of those which deal with it. For those familiar with the French language, the three-volume monograph of the Abbé Bulteau, though often too fantastic in its interpretations, leaves no detail of sculpture unnoted, and must always remain the classic book on the subject, while the visitor to Chartres has at his disposal excellent small guides by Clerval, Massé and Headlam. But exhaustively as it has been treated, the cathedral has never yet been adequately illustrated. Even in Bulteau’s work the illustrations are few and poor. The great monograph published by the French government in 1842 is scarcely to be seen except in public libraries. Moreover, its date precluded its illustration by photography, and the best drawings cannot compete with photographs as accurate records of detail: the personal equation of the draughtsman may and does lead to errors of interpretation. To those who have the opportunity it may be interesting to compare the drawings in the monograph with the photographs here reproduced.

Though the art of photography has travelled far since 1842, it is only within recent years that its scope has been extended by the invention of the telephotographic lens (1891), and even now the advantages of telephotography are not widely appreciated. Yet the increased power which it puts into the hands of the architectural photographer in particular is enormous, and we have endeavoured to take full advantage of it here; those of our illustrations, generally speaking, in which the detail is on the largest scale are telephotographs, and these form perhaps the most valuable part of the series. In fact, without telephotography, the adequate illustration of such a building as Chartres Cathedral is impossible.

The aim of this book is thus, by utilising the resources of modern photography, to illustrate the cathedral on a scale hitherto unattempted. Though our collection of views cannot of course pretend to be exhaustive, we