Cathedrals 3:
photographs 1, Poitiers

Cathedrals 3: Poitiers, neglected masterpiece

Introduction

As well as the masterpiece of the main East window at Poitiers Cathedral, there are fourteen story windows dated from the thirteenth to the fifteenth century. There are also four important grisaille windows further back in the church.

the main east window,
Cathedral of St. Peter, Poitiers
(end of the 12th century)

The ‘ascension’ of Jesus, with two angels
Hover your mouse over different areas of the image section below for information, see notes for more details.[1]

Crucifixion of Jesus
Hover your mouse over different areas of the image section below for information, see notes for more details.[2]

Crucifixion of Peter
Hover your mouse over different areas of the image section below for information, see notes for more details.[3]

Story window showing Lot (left side) and Abraham (right side)
Hover your mouse over different areas of the image below for information, see notes for more details.[4]

Here the story of Lot and his wife who turns to a pillar of salt is shown, as well that of the life of Abraham. (Lot was Abraham’s nephew.)

Notes

1. Jesus, flanked by two angels
   
   
2. INRI: Iesus Nazarus Rex Iudeorum -
   Top panes (left and right): the Apostles
   Label: Jesus of Nazarus King of the Jews, notice allegedly attatched to the cross by a Roman soldier.
   In centre, on cross: Jesus
   To Jesus’s right (our left): Mary, his mother; a Roman soldier with a spear.
   To Jesus’s left (our right): A Roman soldier with a vinegar-soaked swab on a spear; John the evangelist (Jesus’s best friend), unbearded and holding his gospel.
   
   
3. Central pane: Crucifixion of Peter. Not thinking himself worthy of a similar death as Jesus, Peter asked to be crucified upsidedown. Roman soldiers with ladders on either side.
   To left of central pane: Emperor Nero condemns the Apostles.
   To right of central pane: Paul, blindfolded, held and beaten by a soldier.
   At beneath central pane: Royal donors to the Cathedral of this stained glass, believed to be Henry Plantagenet and his wife, Eleanor of Aquitaine (the inscriptions - to left and right - are now unreadable).
   
   
4. Left column of window shows the story of Lot, Abraham’s nephew. The story reads from bottom (full pane 1) to top (pane 6) :
   Pane 3: Lot (labelled) gives hospitality to two angels disguised as men.
   Pane 4: Angel warning Lot to leave Sodom.
   Pane 5: Lot's wife starts to turn into a pillar of salt as she looks back at Sodom.
   On the border of the Dead Sea, the guides will point to one or another column and tell you that it is Lot’s wife.
   Pane 6: Lot escapes with the rest of his family.
   Right column of window shows the life of Abraham, again reading from bottom to top:
   Pane 1: Abram labelled (Abraham’s original name).
   Pane 4: Sarah presents Abraham with a son (?)
   
   

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cathedrals – introduction: reading stained glass
gothic cathedral and church construction
cathedrals 1: Rouen and Monet
cathedrals 2: Dax and church iconography
cathedrals 2: photographs, Dax
cathedrals 3: Poitiers, neglected masterpiece
cathedrals 3: photographs, Poitiers / photos 2
cathedrals 4: Angers, heart of the Angevin Empire
cathedrals 4: photographs, Angers

cathedrals 5: Laon, the midst of the gothic transition, with added oxen
cathedrals 5: photographs, Laon
cathedrals 6: Saint-Jean-Baptiste de Lyon
cathedrals 7: Notre Dame of Lausanne
Lausanne rose window - photo-analysis
Cambrai cathedral
Soissons Cathedral
Germans in France - Arras cathedral
Germans in France - Reims cathedral
Germans in France - St. Quentin cathedral

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© abelard, 2004, 27 november


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