Chartres Cathedral Stained Glass: Key Windows and Their Stories

The Chartres Cathedral, a magnificent and sacred home of the Virgin Mary in Western Europe, is renowned for its extraordinary blue-hued stained glass windows. The glass at Chartres is notably thick, almost three times as thick as the glass found in Sainte-Chapelle in Paris, and is densely saturated with color, possibly due to the use of lapis lazuli, which may have traveled from Afghanistan via the Silk Road.

The West Facade's Inner Wall: Continuing the Christological Drama

The Christological drama, encompassing the incarnation, passion, and Last Judgment, which is depicted on the three portals of the west facade, continues along the inner wall of the west facade in stained glass.

The Tree of Jesse Window

One prominent motif found here is the Tree of Jesse, a theme also seen at Saint-Denis. This high window illustrates the genealogy of Christ, linking the Old and New Testaments through the figure of a dreaming Jesse, culminating with the Virgin Mary and Jesus at the top.

The four crowned figures in the Chartres Jesse window are believed to represent David, Solomon, Rehoboam, and Abijah, the first four kings in Matthew's list of Christ's royal ancestors. Christ is identified by a cruciform nimbus around his head. Within the red half-circles on either side of the figures in the tree, facing them, are 14 Old Testament prophets holding scrolls with their names. From top to bottom and left to right, they are:

• Habakkuk and Zephaniah
• Isaiah and Daniel
• Moses and Balaam
• Zechariah and Joel
• Ezekiel and Micah
• Samuel and Amos
• Nahum and Hosea

The Incarnation Window

The drama of the incarnation is also depicted in glass, mirroring the lower lintel of the left west facade portal. The Chartres incarnation window narrates several key events:

• The Annunciation: The angel Gabriel visits Mary.
• The Visitation: Mary, pregnant with Jesus, visits Elizabeth, who is pregnant with John the Baptist.
• The Nativity: The birth of Jesus is portrayed in a double-decker bed and crib arrangement, similar to the stone depiction on the exterior.
• The Annunciation to the Shepherds.
• King Herod Consulting Astrologers: They have seen the star signifying the birth of the King of the Jews.
• The Adoration of the Magi: Following the star (shown in the upper right corner of the panel), they find Jesus.
• The Epiphany or Dream of the Magi: They are warned not to return to King Herod.
• The Presentation of Jesus in the Temple: Mary hands Jesus to Simeon, who prophesies to Mary, "Behold, this child is set for the falling and rising of many in Israel."
• Herod's Massacre of the Holy Innocents: Accompanied by the flight of Mary, Joseph, and Jesus into Egypt.
• Joseph's Dream: After Herod's death.
• The Baptism of Christ.
• Christ's Entry into Jerusalem: Welcomed by his disciples, depicted across three panels.
• Mary Enthroned with Jesus on Her Lap: A scene also found on the exterior of the cathedral in the tympanum of the south portal of Chartres' west facade.

"Notre-Dame de la Belle Verrière" (Our Lady of the Beautiful Window)

The scene of the Sedes Sapientiae (Throne of Wisdom) is captured in one of Chartres' most famous windows, known as "Notre-Dame de la Belle Verrière." This window still contains some of its original 12th-century glass.

The Passion and Resurrection Window

Within the Christological drama, there is also a dedicated Passion and Resurrection window. Its 14 panels, arranged in double circles of pearl-like white dots, offer a detailed narrative:

• Christ's Transfiguration on Mount Tabor: Jesus departs with apostles Peter, James, and John, radiates light, and speaks with Old Testament prophets Elijah and Moses, while a voice from the sky declares him "son."
• The Last Supper.
• The Washing of the Disciples' Feet.
• The Betrayal of Judas: Judas is seen kissing Christ's face.
• The Flagellation.
• The Crucifixion.
• The Deposition from the Cross.
• The Anointing and Entombment of Christ's Body.
• The Resurrection.
• "Noli me tangere" (Do not touch me): Jesus speaks these words to Mary Magdalene when she recognizes him after his resurrection.
• The Apostles Receiving News of the Resurrection.
• The Meeting of Jesus with Two Disciples on the Road to Emmaus.
• The Supper at Emmaus: Jesus, having returned to Earth, is recognized.