Description
West Façade, Right Frieze, Life of Christ, Left Side of Right Portal
31: Peter smites Malchus (?)
(Matthew 26:51, Mark 14:47, Luke 22:50-1, John 18:10)
When Judas betrayed Christ in the Garden of Gethsemane, an apostle whom John identifies as Simon Peter used a sword to cut off the ear of Malchus, a servant of the high priest. According to the other Gospels, Jesus then healed Malchus.
A bearded figure stands at right. His hands are on the head and the shoulder of Malchus, who kneels at left and looks back over his shoulder. The sword is not visible.
Heimann, Houvet and other scholars describe the scene as Peter cutting off the ear of Malchus. (Heimann, p. 84; Houvet, p.25) Marriage gave this description: “Jesus heals the ear of Malchus, which Peter had cut off.” (Marriage, p. 74)
At left are figures from:
30: Last Supper.
At right are figures from:
32: The Betrayal of Christ.
Subject
Cathédrale de Chartres--Pictorial works.;Church decoration and ornament--France--Chartres--Pictorial works.;Church architecture--France--Chartres--Pictorial works.;Christian art and symbolism--France--Chartres--Medieval, 500-1500--Pictorial works.
