MEDIEVAL STAINED GLASS ZODIAC SIGN: LIBRA

MEDIEVAL ZODIAC SIGN – AUTHENTIC STAINED GLASS - LIBRA

One of the designs in a series of the signs of the zodiac as depicted in the stained glass windows of the famous French medieval cathedrals of Amiens, Angers, Chartres and Paris.

The design for Libra is based on a design in the 13th century Zodiac Window of Chartres Cathedral. Libra is represented by a woman holding a pair of scales.

Each is hand-made using the red, blue and green glass for which French medieval stained glass is famous and hand painted in the style of the 12th and 13th centuries.

The panel is 34 cms square and 49.5 cms across the diagonal (14 and 19.5 inches respectively), about 1/4 the size of the original, and is designed to be hung in a window where it will catch the sun.

I use only quality glass and lead. The paints used are vitreous paints or stains, from which stained glass takes its name. They are the same type as used in the Middle Ages and are applied with the same techniques as then.

Because of the notorious difficulty of photographing stained glass I usually show two pictures, one taken against a window and the other against a light box. Neither unfortunately really succeeds in showing the true beauty of the glass.

ZODIAC SIGNS IN CATHEDRALS?

One may wonder at seeing the signs of the zodiac in a cathedral. In fact they are a relatively common form of imagery found in the stained glass windows and carvings of many of the great medieval cathedrals of France. As in the ancient Egyptian, Babylonian and Hebrew times they were used to represent the constellations of the stars. In the cathedrals they represent the stars in the sky, being used in an astronomical sense rather than an astrological sense and are placed in a Christian context.

In Notre Dame of Paris, for example, the great West rose window honours Mary as Seat of Wisdom (Sedes Sapientiae). It shows her enthroned, holding the child Jesus surrounded by prophets, virtues, the signs of the months and the Zodiac signs representing the stars in the heavens.

At Chartres the Zodiacs window shows the signs of the zodiac representing space with the corresponding signs of the months of the year representing time. Above them Christ is enthroned as the Lord and Master of time and space.

The complete series which is available or can be made to order is:

Capricorn is based on the famous 13th century Zodiac Signs window at Chartres Notre Dame Cathedral. Capricorn is shown as half goat and half fish, the fish being a symbol for Jesus whose advent is celebrated during the sign of Capricorn

Aquarius – Chartres Notre Dame 13th century. Aquarius, the water-carrier is shown pouring water from an urn.

Pisces – Chartres Notre Dame 13th century. Pisces is represented in the usual way as two fish, head-to-tail, their mouths linked by a cord.

Aries – Chartres Notre Dame 13th century. Aries is represented by a ram standing among trees.

Taurus – Chartres Notre Dame 13th century. Taurus, the bull, stands among trees

Gemini – Chartres Notre Dame 13th century. Gemini, the Twins, are shown holding hands.

Cancer – Amiens Cancer is represented by a crab.

Leo – Angers Cathedral 15th century. Leo the Lion.

Virgo – Chartres Notre Dame 13th century. Virgo, the Virgin, holds a flower in each hand.

Libra – Chartres Notre Dame 13th century. Libra is represented by a woman holding a pair of scales.

Scorpio – Paris Notre Dame 13th century. Scorpio the Scorpion

Sagittarius – Chartres Notre Dame 13th century. Sagittarius is a centaur, half man half beast, holding a bow in one hand and arrows in the other.