The Jesse Window of Chartres Cathedral

The Jesse Window depicts the lineage of Christ from Jesse. Jesse is lying at the bottom of the window, dressed in a Jewish cap. The tree of life sprouts from his groin, the center of human fertility. The tree is green, a color which denotes growth and renewal, which is a fitting symbol of Christ's renewal of the human race through his sacrifice. The tree grows up through Mary to Christ, who is seated at the top of the tree.

Christ is surrounded by seven doves, which represent the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit. Also, remember that the number seven is symbolic of the completion and perfection of the cosmos, as it is the sum of four, which represents the perfection of the material world, and three, which represents the perfection of the spiritual world. There are also seven prophets on either side of Christ, and represent revealed truth coming from God through the line of human prophets and culminating in the person of Christ.

Click here for detail of the window showing Christ at the top surrounded by the seven doves.

copyright © Dr. Deborah Vess 1998-2001, Georgia College & State University and the Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia. All rights reserved. Rights to chapters authored by contributing faculty members reserved to Georgia College & State University, to the Interdisciplinary Studies Program at GC&SU, and to the individual faculty authors.