The Passion Window

The windows of the Sainte-Chapelle offer a comprehensive visual narrative of biblical history, with the New Testament dominating the east end of the apse and the Old Testament covering the north and south walls of the nave. This arrangement positions the Passion, located above the altar and oriented towards the Middle East, within a vast historical commentary that establishes redemption as the central theme of world history.

The chapel's design immerses visitors in biblical stories, with some scholars suggesting that the window patterns mirror manuscript illuminations found in 13th-century "moralized Bibles" from Paris. These moralized Bibles included extensive commentary, akin to the detailed biblical illuminations in the Sainte-Chapelle windows. For instance, the episode of the Golden Calf from the Book of Exodus spans six panels, 40 scenes are dedicated to the heroine Judith, and 124 panels depict Queen Esther.

The Passion Window

The upper section of the Passion window illustrates scenes following the crucifixion. Moving from bottom to top, these include:

• Holy women at the tomb.
• Christ's descent into Limbo.
• The appearance of the risen Christ to Mary Magdalene.
• Mary Magdalene with two apostles, possibly announcing the resurrection.
• Jesus's meeting with the disciples on the road to Emmaus.
• Jesus at Emmaus, where he is recognized by the disciples, a group of angels, and seated apostles.

Surrounding Lancet Windows

The Passion window is flanked by lancet windows:

• To the left: Scenes from the childhood of Christ and the life of St. John the Evangelist, who is depicted as the prophet of the apocalypse and the second coming.
• To the right: A double lancet.
  • The left part illustrates the life of St. John the Baptist.
  • The right part features scenes from the Book of Daniel, including a detailed depiction of Daniel in the lion's den. In this scene, the king who condemned Daniel raises his hand against him, while Daniel sits peacefully on the lion's head.

A detail from the John the Baptist window shows Salome dancing, and below, Salome standing with a plate, ready to receive John the Baptist's head. The Sainte-Chapelle's treasury once housed the occipital bone of John the Baptist's skull, recognizing him as the last prophet and precursor.

The Tree of Jesse and Isaiah Windows

To the left of the Evangelist window, in the northeast section of the apse, another double lancet is found:

• Right-hand panels: Contain a Tree of Jesse, similar to those seen at Sanden and Chartres. A detailed view from the Jesse window is presented.
• Left-hand section: Dedicated to the prophecies of Isaiah, the prophet of the incarnation. He prophesied that "a rod will grow out of the line of Jesse." This section includes the angel's annunciation to Isaiah that "a virgin will conceive" (Isaiah 7:14). One panel from the Isaiah window shows the prophet warning against idols, with a sign pointing to "Ma Muhammad," a detail noted for its significance given the chapel's construction on the eve of the Seventh Crusade.

Ezekiel and Jeremiah Windows

To the right of the Baptist Daniel window are the stories of Ezekiel and Jeremiah. A notable detail from the Ezekiel window depicts not only Ezekiel's wheel from his vision but also an early version of the Tetramorph. This Tetramorph, featuring Mark as the lion, Luke as the ox, John as the eagle, and Matthew as the man, has parallels with depictions on the tympanum of the central door of the Royal Portal at Chartres and on the glass of the Chartres west rose.

This arrangement places the prophets of redemption near the Passion, forming a "prophetic cycle" that bridges the Old and New Testaments, transitioning from the New Testament windows to the Old Testament windows that surround them on either side of the nave.