Forming part of the mid-15th-century glazing campaign at Bourges Cathedral, the Doctrinal Cycle unites two companion windows — one devoted to the Four Evangelists and the other to the Four Latin Fathers of the Church. Conceived as intellectual pendants, these windows express the harmony between Revelation and Interpretation, the written Word of God and its authoritative exposition by the great theologians of the Western Church.

Together they articulate the cathedral’s role as both a centre of learning and a sanctuary of faith, visually complementing the contemporary Marian and Donor Cycle that explores the themes of Incarnation and intercession.

Context

The Evangelists and Fathers form a paired theological ensemble across the south ambulatory, an architectural dialogue between divine inspiration and human exegesis. Together with the Marian cycle, they create a tripartite visual theology: Revelation (Evangelists), Interpretation (Fathers), and Incarnation (Marian scenes).

This integration reflects the intellectual and devotional culture of 15th-century Bourges, a centre of learning and ecclesiastical authority under Archbishop Jean Coeur and King Louis XI.

Condition

The window retains a high degree of original glass, including the canopies, central figures, and heraldic panels. 19th-century conservation work affected mainly the outer borders and select tracery lights. The balance of hue and luminosity remains remarkably intact, preserving the clarity and depth typical of the Bourges atelier.