This triple lancet presents three apostles of the later canonical lists: Bartholomew, Matthias, and Simon. Their presence continues the south-side sequence of apostolic standers and reflects the full breadth of the apostolic college as understood in early medieval tradition.

Description of the Window
The three figures stand under uniform Gothic canopies with the characteristic red-and-blue geometric borders. Their poses are calm and frontal, emphasising doctrinal continuity.

St Bartholomew (left)

Bartholomew holds a knife, his principal attribute, alluding to his flaying in later tradition. His strong facial modelling and slightly turned head add a subtle dynamism to an otherwise hieratic figure. His garments, rendered in deep tones, integrate him visually into the sequence.

St Matthias (centre)

Matthias holds a book, identifying him as a teacher and apostolic witness. As the replacement for Judas (Acts 1:26), his inclusion in the Bourges cycle is part of the workshop’s insistence on presenting a complete apostolic college. His expression is calm and didactic.

St Simon (right)

Simon holds a book in his left hand while raising his right hand in blessing. He does not carry the saw that is seen in later iconography. His gesture of benediction makes this one of the more expressive figures in the cycle, while the absence of martyrdom attributes places emphasis on apostolic teaching.

Iconographic Notes

The use of scrolls and books across this window reflects the workshop’s preference for doctrinal clarity over narrative detail. All three figures embody roles as preachers and teachers.

Stylistic Notes

The same early-Gothic palette and linear drapery appear here as in the adjacent bays, confirming a tightly coordinated glazing programme.