Explain the function of jamb statues in cathedrals. How can the transition between Romanesque and Gothic styles be seen in the differences between the statues located in the west façade and south transept of Chartres Cathedral?

Question

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Answer 1

In the Middle Ages a function of sculpture was to embellish architecture. Over two thousand carved figures decorate the exterior of Chartres, were concentrated principally around entryways or door jambs, and were referred to as jamb statues. They serve as a conceptual transition between the secular, everyday world and the sacred space within.

Created at different times, the stylistic transition from Romanesque to Gothic is obvious. On the west façade, the Romanesque style can be seen in the elongated, flattened bodies of the 12th-century carvings, with the linear folds of the draperies not so much sculpted as incised, as if drawn into the stone with a chisel. It is difficult to believe that there are actual bodies under the draped clothing. Carved a hundred years later, the statues on the south transept display the mature Gothic style. Compared to the bodies on the north façade, the bodies here are more fully rounded and appear to be further detached from their architectural supports. A sense of musculature is evident, with the draped clothing suggesting there is a body underneath.