Description
West Façade, Left Frieze, Life of Mary and Infancy of Christ, Left Side of Central Portal
7: Joachim, Anne and Mary
The child Mary stands between Joachim and Anne (all have halos). Anne looks at Mary and holds her arm. This scene is generally identified as "Joachim and Anne take Mary to the Temple." This scene is rare in other illustrated versions of the childhood of Mary. There is some dispute about the male figure to the left of Mary. Houvet says it is Joachim, since it has a halo. Heimann also identifies it as Joachim, but says she was tempted to identify it as the High Priest at the Temple. (Heimann p. 78) (The Priest in the first scene - the offering of Joachim and Anne is rejected - also has a halo. - JV)
Heimann notes that the figures of Anne and Mary in this scene are close to an illustration in the both the Vatican copy and the Paris copy of the Homilies of the Greek monk Jacobus Kokkinobaphos, which was believed to have been made in Constantinople (Heimann, pp. 77-8). Spitzer points out that the inclusion of this scene is part of the tendency in the frieze to expand on the Virgin's early life and thus to emphasize her importance. She also suggests that it reflects the theme of the importance of the family and balances the first scenes, which emphasize the grief caused by childlessness. (Spitzer, p. 139).
Note the unidentifiable creature at the right of the figures.
At right are figures from:
5: Bath of the Virgin.
6: Two Figures Converse.
At left are figures from:
8: Mary Mounting the Three Steps to the Temple.
9: Mary Presented to Joseph.
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.
