Creation Story - Rouen Cathedral

The Portail des Libraires (Booksellers' Portal), located at the north transept of Rouen Cathedral (Notre-Dame de Rouen), dates to the late 13th century (construction begun c. 1278) and exemplifies Rayonnant Gothic style. Flanking the portal's doorways and trumeau are elongated buttresses (piédroits) adorned with approximately 200 quatrefoil medallions arranged in tiers, forming accordion-like screens on either side.

These small, well-preserved limestone carvings feature 22 narrative scenes from the Book of Genesis, including the Creation, Adam and Eve's expulsion from Eden, and the Fall of Man, read left to right from the western embrasure.

In the image above God creates the heavens and earth. The carving depicts the creation of the heavens and earth (Genesis 1:1). The small relief shows God, portrayed as a majestic figure with a halo and flowing robes, raising his hands in a gesture of divine command. Above him, swirling patterns or radiant lines symbolize the forming heavens, while below, a rudimentary earth, perhaps with hills or waters, emerges

Drawn from Genesis 1:6-8 this small relief depicts God, haloed and robed, with raised hands commanding the separation of the sea from the firmament. Above, the firmament is suggested by curved lines or a vaulted arch, while below, wavy patterns represent the sea, separated by a clear boundary. The compact design, detailed despite weathering, captures the cosmic order of creation with intricate Gothic flair.

Genesis 1:11-13 (The creation of plants) depicts God with an outstretched hand blessing the earth. Below, stylized plants, trees with budding branches and sprouting grasses, emerge from the ground, rendered with delicate Gothic detailing

Genesis 1:14-19 (Creation of the sun and moon), here God is commanding the heavens. Above, a radiant sun with stylized rays and a crescent moon are shown, set against a backdrop of faint stars or a vaulted sky.

Genesis 1:24-25 (Creation of animals), God with an outstretched hand blesses the earth. A variety of animals, stylized representations of cattle, birds, and creeping things, emerge, with delicate Gothic detailing on their forms, such as feathered wings or curved tails.

Genesis 1:26-27 and 2:7 (Creation of Man). God is forming the first man, Adam's body is emerging from the earth to receive the breath of life. The figure’s pose reflect Gothic naturalism, though weathering has softened some features. The compact design captures the divine act of human creation, blending reverence with intricate artistry.

Genesis 2:2-3 (God rests on the seventh day), God, seated holding the earth in his hand symbolizing the completion of creation.

This sequence, of 7 medallions in the upper tier, progresses chronologically, blending biblical narrative with Gothic artistry. The compact reliefs, though weathered, use symbolic motifs  to convey creation’s order, reflecting 13th-century Rouen’s theological and cultural milieu.