Statues - Hither & Thither

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Rochester
Kent
South East England

Boley Hill

Statues at the West Portal of Rochester Cathedral

Medieval artist
1115-24

Description

The north portal of the Cathedral is flanked by two statues, resp.:

Rochester - Statues at the North Portal of Rochester Cathedral
1
2

GUNDULF 1077-1108.
Gundulf of Rochester, bishop of Rochester, 1075-1108, Builder of Rochester Castle, the White Tower and Father of the Corps of Royal Engineers (Wikipedia).
JOHN 1125-1137.
John I, bishop of Rochester 1125-1137 (Wikipedia).
The tympanum shows a relief
Christ in Majesty (Latin: Maiestas Domini): Christ sitting in glory in the centre, with Saints Justus and Ethelbert flanking him on either side of the doorway. Supporting the saints are angels and surrounding them are the symbols of the Four Evangelists (Wikipedia, not quite clear to us is where the both saints are).
On the lintel are 10 small statues and 2 reliefs of the Twelve Apostles.

The inner jambs have two weathered statues of:
1. King Henry I (Wikipedia).
  and his wife:
2. Mathilda of Flanders / Scotland (Wikipedia).

Sculptor

Unknown medieval artist.

Sources & Information

Agnes Strickland, Lives of the Queens of England, from the Norman conquest (Philadelphia, 1841) (through Google Books), pp. 169-170.
Samuel R. Gardiner, A Student's History of England, v. 1 (London etc., 1915) (The Project Gutenberg).
Graham Dummett, Rochester Cathedral, Doorways, Gateways, Openings, Monastery (2012), quoted in Wikipedia

Locatie (N 51°23'21" - E 0°30'10") (Satellite view: Google Maps)

Item Code: gbse119; Photograph: 15 August 2015 / updated: 12 April 2017
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