Statues - Hither & Thither

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Place Notre-Dame

Sculptures sur la Cathédrale

Sculptures at the Cathedral

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Description

Numerous statues on the façade of the cathedral. The Western portals of the cathedral are justly famous for their elaborate sculpture, featuring a gallery of locally-important saints and large eschatological scenes.

Central: portal of the Last Judgment

Amiens - Sculptures à la façade de la Cathédrale

The tympanum has a representation of the Last Judgment, when at the end of time, according to Christian tradition, the dead are raised then are judged by Christ. This tympanum is divided into three registers.
On the trumeau are two statues: the statue of Christ the Saviour, or the "Beau-Dieu d'Amiens". The standing Christ is teaching, wearing a long tunic, and with his feet on a dragon and a lion. In his left hand he holds a closed book and he blesses with his right hand. The lower statue shows a king with crown and sceptre. It is suggested this statue represents king Philip II of France (1165-1223, Wikipedia). During his reign the construction of the cathedral started.
On the jambs are the statues of the twelve Apostles and the four Prophets.

North: Saint-Firmin's portal

In the trumeau is the statue of St. Firmin.
The tympanum tells the story of the discovery of Saint-Firmin's body. On the jambs are six large statues on each side, most of them are saints whose relics were exhibited annually above the altar. On the left St. Ulphe, St. Acheul (martyr), St. Ache, an angel and St. Honore, former bishop of the city. To the right are St. Firmin the Confessor (Firmin II bishop of the city), St. Domice, St. Fuscien, St. Warlus and St. Luxor.

South: The portal of the Mother of God or the Virgin

In the trumeau is a large statue of the Virgin trampling the evil, represented in the form of a fantastic animal with a human head. She is portrayed in a very static approach, which is characteristic for the statues inspired by the model of the Cathedral of Chartres.

The lintel shows from bottom to top six figures from the Old Testament, the ancestors of the Virgin; the lower section of the tympanum the death and Assumption of the Virgin and the upper section her Coronation in heaven.

The statues on the jambs of the side are to the right, three important episodes in the life of the Virgin Mary: the Annunciation, the Visitation and the Presentation of Jesus at the Temple. At left are the Queen of Sheba, King Solomon, King Herod the Great and the three kings.

The Galery of the Kings

22 statues, showing kings of the Franks (Roi des Francs) since Childeric II (673-675) up to and including Philip II, but not all the statues are identified. They date from the first half of the thirteenth century. The central part of the facade has eight huge statues of 3.75 meters, set at 30 meters high. In addition, there are five on each side of the western base of each tower, and four on the buttresses dividing the façade into three vertical zones.

nr. 4: Pippin the Short, standing on a lion; no. 5 Charlemagne

Sources & Information

Antoine Pierre M. Gilbert, Description historique de l'église cathédrale de Notre-Dame d'Amiens (Amiens, 1833) (Google books).
Wikipedia, Cathédrale Notre-Dame d'Amiens.

Locatie (N 49°53'41" - E 2°18'4") (Satellite view: Google Maps)

Item Code: frpi060; Photograph: 3 June 2012
Of each statue we made photos from various angles and also detail photos of the various texts.
If you want to use photos, please contact us via the contact form (in Dutch, English or German).
© Website and photos: René & Peter van der Krogt

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