Window w.210 forms part of the southern clerestory apostolic cycle of Bourges Cathedral. Created in the first decades of the 13th century, this scheme is contemporary with the cathedral’s great choir and represents one of the finest ensembles of High Gothic stained glass in France.

The window presents three standing saints, each enclosed within a tall, narrow lancet:

1. Left: St James the Less (IACOBVS)

2. Centre: St Barnabas (BARNABAS)

3. Right: St Thaddeus / Jude (TADDEVS)

Their arrangement reflects the medieval tendency to pair apostles with figures of the wider apostolic or missionary tradition, emphasising the expansion of the early Church.

The Three Figures

1. St James the Less

Depicted without attributes and identified by inscription, James the Less appears as a bearded apostle holding a small book. His simplicity accords with early Gothic iconography, predating the later convention of the fuller’s club. His presence in this window, rather than among the principal apostolic group, reflects his status as a quieter but foundational figure of the Jerusalem church.

2. St Barnabas

The central figure, Barnabas, is a rare early representation of the apostolic companion of St Paul. Although not one of the Twelve, Barnabas held extraordinary prestige in early Christianity, and Bourges gives him a full apostolic standing figure. He is shown with a book, emphasising his missionary authority and his role in the first Gentile communities.

3. St Thaddeus (Jude)

On the right is Thaddeus/Jude, one of the Twelve and traditionally the author of the short Epistle of Jude. He is shown as a mature apostle with a book and teaching gesture. The absence of his later emblem (the club or halberd) again reflects a pre-standardisation phase of apostolic iconography.

Style and Technique

The window displays all the hallmarks of the Bourges workshop c.1210–1215:

• Mosaic-like jewel colours (ruby, sapphire, emerald)

• Heavy black linework defining drapery and facial features

• Architectural canopy motifs with repeating geometries

• Strong vertical emphasis and monumental proportions

This workshop produced glass rivalled only by Chartres for intensity of colour and structural harmony.

Significance

Window w.210 preserves an extremely rare configuration: two canonical apostles presented alongside a major apostolic associate. Its early Gothic style predates the later codification of apostolic emblems, making it an invaluable witness to the evolving visual language of sainthood between the 12th and 13th centuries.

As a trio, James the Less, Barnabas, and Thaddeus represent the continuity of the Church from Jerusalem through missionary expansion, fitting themes for the spiritual architecture of the Bourges choir.