Virgin and Child

window, Chartres, France

Also known as: “La Belle Verrière”

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Last updated

July 14, 2026

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The "Virgin and Child" window at Chartres Cathedral is a significant example of 12th-century stained glass art. This window, part of Chartres Cathedral's extensive collection of 176 stained-glass windows, is renowned for its educational and devotional purpose. While early medieval windows often featured simple decorative designs, by the 12th century, pictorial windows became a major art form. The "Virgin and Child" window, also known as La Belle Verrière, is a notable example of a single monumental figure from this period. Chartres Cathedral itself is a masterpiece of Gothic architecture, and its association with the Virgin Mary made it a crucial pilgrimage site in the Middle Ages.123

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stained glass
12th century
…Canterbury or like the well-known Virgin and Child known as La Belle Verrière at Chartres. The most important feature of the 12th century, however, was the development of the narrative window, consisting of a series of medallions painted with pictorial subjects. This type of window was, so far as is…
Read More
…Canterbury or like the well-known Virgin and Child known as La Belle Verrière at Chartres. The most important feature of the 12th century, however, was the development of the narrative window, consisting of a series of medallions painted with pictorial subjects. This type of window was, so far as is…
Read More