Index of Gothic Sculpture

This tomb of William I Duke of Normandy (d942) in Rouen Cathedral dates from the 14th century. The earlier burial had been in the ancient sanctuary near the end of what is now the nave.

Robert Curthose (d1134) effigy, of painted Irish bog oak, was made about 100 years after his death.

The Gothic period is characterized by the early simplicity of naturalistic figures to the late excessively enriched elegance and elaborate clothing of the figures in the later period, the subject matter of Gothic sculpture featured the mysticism of the mid to late medieval age with an emphasis on suffering and emotion.

Designated a World heritage Site by UNESCO in 1979 the Cathedral of Notre-Dame de Chartres was built from between 1145 and 1250. It's high nave is spanned by ogival pointed arches to form the vault, and the walls are supported by double flying buttresses. Chartres is the first building to have used buttresses as a structural element.

Chartres Cathedral is also unique in having retained almost all of its original 12th and 13th century stained glass.

In addition to the martyrs, the south porch contains a sequence of images of those that had proclaimed Christian beliefs during periods of suppression (confessors).

The south porch of Chartres Cathedral contains a series of sculptures, that were made between 1194 and 1230, on the subject of the martyrdom of saints.

The western façade of the cathedral of Notre-Dame in Paris, with its twin towers, was built between 1200 and 1240. With its three portals containing scenes from the life of the Virgin Mary, the Last Judgment, and scenes from the life of St. Anne, it is considered one of the finest examples of early Gothic architecture.

The portal of St Anne on the right of the western façade was built in 1200 and is the earliest of the three portals to be built. The tympanum is actually dated to about 1150 and was once part of the earlier cathedral of St. Stephen whose western façade was once 40 metres to the west of the present Cathedral.

This portal of the Virgin, at Notre Dame Paris, was sculpted between 1210 and 1220. The main scene show the Coronation of the Virgin, where Mary is being crowned Queen of heaven by an angel, whilst she sits on the same throne as Jesus. In the lintel below is Mary on her death bed surrounded by Jesus and the twelve aposles, two angels are about to lift her to heaven. In the lower lintel the old testament prophets are holding scrolls prophesying Christ.

Tomb of King John the youngest son of Henry II and Eleanor of Aquitaine. Made from Purbeck marble the sarcophagus dates from about 1230 and is the earliest effigy in the country to an English king. Originally the effigy would have lain on the floor, but as more elaborate tombs were installed in later years, John's effigy was raised up to rest on a tomb chest that was made in about 1540.

The western facade of the cathedral of Notre-Dame in Amiens contains 3 doorways. A central portal that opens into the nave, and two portals beneath the north and south towers that open into the cathedral's aisles. Above each portal is a tympanum the central one depicting the last Judgement, the northern one the transfer of the relics of St Firmin, and the south portal depicts the Virgin Mary.

The portal of St Firmin opens into the north aisle of Amiens Cathedral. The tympanum shows the discovery of his remains outside the city, and their transport to the cathedral.

Gothic tympanum of the Last Judgement dating from about 1230 at Bourges Cathedral, France.

This effigy on a low tomb chest is thought to be Alexander of Holderness (d1226) abbot of Peterborough.

Tomb of William Longespee (d1226) Earl of Salisbury. William Longespee was the illegitimate son of Henry II and half brother to King Richard I and King John of England.

The central doorway was the last of the three portals, of Notre-Dame Cathedral Paris, to be decorated. Work started in about 1230 and consists of Christ in Majesty (showing the marks of the Crucifixion) with the Virgin Mary and St John on either side of him.

The tympanum of St Stephen at Bourges cathedral was constructed by 1240, and is above one of the five portals at the west end of the cathedral. The tympanum is made up of three sections. The lowest section depicts Stephen being made one of the seven deacons of the early church. Above that is his martyrdom, and on top of all is an image of Christ as Salvator Mundi.

Made between 1240-1255 by a Paris goldsmith, to hold the relics of St Taurin, this shrine was commissioned by the abbot Gislebert de Saint-Martin. The reliquary weighs 82kg and is made of bronze silver and gold leaf over a wooden chest.