Les deux galeries des rois de la cathédrale de Chartres

Chartres Cathedral's two royal galleries, one above the western façade and another over the southern transept porch, reveal their significance through their connection to the coronation ceremony of French kings. This ritual linked the French monarchy to the lineage of Judean kings, emphasizing the king's divine right and his relationship with the Church. The first gallery, primarily dating back to the early 13th century (with some reconstructions in the 14th), displays statues with distinct attributes suggesting identities, while the second, slightly later gallery, lacks such distinguishing features. Both galleries exhibit stylistic influences from Paris, particularly around the time of the Crowned Virgin portal at Notre-Dame de Paris (c. 1210-1220). The study deciphers these architectural and sculptural elements to unravel their historical and symbolic meanings.

Lautier, C. (2011). Les deux galeries des rois de la cathédrale de Chartres. Bulletin Monumental, 169(1), 41–64. https://doi.org/10.3406/bulmo.2011.7897