Chartres stained glass
Labours of the months series
The fine stained glass here shows the months and signs of the zodiac in medallions. The colours, strong red and dark blue, are typical of Chartres with its fine glass of the early thirteenth century.
The medallions on the left show the labours of the months, and those on the right show the zodiac signs corresponding to them; the quatrefoils in the middle are split in two, with the labour in one half and the zodiac sign in the other. At the very top of the window, in the highest quatrefoil, sits Christ, raising his right hand in blessing; the whole world, the cycle of the seasons and the passing of time, is all part of his creation and under his rule.
Here is April, a smartly dressed figure holding a flower in each hand, with a flowering branch on each side, in a finely symmetrical composition. See how 'Aprilis' is written in the circular band that contains the image. We might think that such images were the 'pauper's bible', intended to show the illiterate peasants the Bible stories and other religious themes; but in fact this art was intended for a learned audience and often contains tags telling us who and what the picture represents.
This is August, threshing the corn with a flail. Unlike April this composition is full of action, rather than being poised and balanced. Behind the thresher - who is stripped to his drawers in the August heat - you can see a sheaf tied up.
It's December (or so it says on the baseline; but in a moment, you'll see another December, so one of the glaziers made a mistake - this is really November!). Christmas is coming, and the pig needs to be made into sausages. There is no doubt what the peasant is going to do next, and it's a good thing he's wearing a bright red coat. But it's the pig, with its wonderful curves, which is the focus of the composition - the man seems just an afterthought.
It's December again, unless my eyes have got very bad!And here is the Christmas feast, with the table set, a fine white tablecloth, and our host holding up a drinking vessel to drink a toast.
February brings this marvellous design with a roaring, flowing red fire in the chimney. The way the red contrasts with the chilly, pale green of the brick heart and the man's cloak is particularly effective. He has put his stick (or crook?) down, and holds his hands out towards the fire, and he's toasting his feet on the hearth. I think this is my favourite portrayal anywhere of this typical scene - it's so vigorous and even joyous in the way it catches everyday attitudes.
Here's a real contrast - July. Out in the fields, we see the harvester with his scythe. Again the composition is elegant - the blade of the scythe fits into the curve of the circular medallion, while the handle cuts right across the picture and creates a counterpoint with the diagonals of the harvester's limbs. And it's hot, so the peasant seems to have tucked his tunic up, and is wearing a rather comic straw hat.
June is another harvest scene, but this harvester is using a sickle rather than a scythe. That may indicate it's a different crop. And on the right is Leo, the relevant sign (though he really ought to belong to July).
March keeps up the fine quality of the work, with almost art nouveau curls to the vine shoots that the labourer is trimming. He wears a hood to keep him warm - we're not out of winter yet. It seems almost as if the tendrils are draping over him to protect him from the cold, and I can't help thinking of the way Romanesque figures are often caught up in vine scrolls or foliage in carvings. Of course this is quite a bit later than those carvings, so that's just a fanciful thought...
May is shown with his horse. He's clearly a knight; he holds a banner with a cross and flying tails, and wears a helmet over his chain mail. The horse has stopped to drink and carries a fine saddle. On the right are the twins, Gemini, in a lively scene, their gestures reflecting each other.
Here's another of the split panels, showing Scorpio - with a definite resemblance to the Scorpio of the facade - and the October activity, putting wine into the barrel for its fermentation.
And by the way, this is a very relevant scene in this window, which was given by the vintners' guild - they must have particularly liked the scenes of vine pruning and wine making.
Return to the list of images of labours of the months