Column statues of apostles and prophets face each other on either of the central doorway. These are significantly more natural than earlier figures and are almost free-standing (Fig. 2.24).
Figure 2.22 Column statues from the Royal Portal at Chartres.
the same blocks of stone as the columns on which they stand, and the long vertical lines in the folds of the drapery emphasise their tall and narrow appearance. Only the faces, with their serene yet lifelike expressions, are naturalistic (Fig. 2.22).
The North Portal
The north portal is dedicated to the Virgin Mary. Her mother, St Anne, holds the baby Mary on the central trumeau, while above she is crowned Queen of Heaven (Fig. 2.23).
Figure 2.24 Abraham and Isaac, jamb figures from the north porch (centre), Chartres Cathedral. Abraham is just about to sacrifice his son for God, but an angel above his right shoulder comes to save the boy.
Women
Figure 2.23 The ornate North Portal, Chartres Cathedral.
The sculptures on the cathedrals were originally painted in full colour. Make a drawing of a doorway at Chartres and colour the stonework and sculpture as you think it might have looked.
CHAPTER 2 GOTHIC ART AND ARCHITECTURE
Blanche of Castille paid for the decoration of the north portal. She was a strong and powerful figure in medieval France, so this doorway features many women.
Find out the story of Abraham and Issac and see how cleverly the artist has included the details in the figures and their surroundings. Knowing more about the biblical characters makes ‘reading’ the sculpture on the cathedrals easier and far more interesting.
