Sex, sin and salvation : a case study of the narrative pictorial cycle of Saint Mary the Egyptian at Bourges Cathedral

This paper studies the narrative stained glass cycle of the Life of Saint Mary the Egyptian at Bourges Cathedral within the context of prevailing—and often conflicting--civil and ecclesiastical attitudes toward sex, sexual sin, and prostitution in early thirteenth century France. Although the Church maintained that sexual sin was mortal sin, civil records suggest the public was skeptical. Through the example of a penitent harlot, this window, both structurally and in thematic content, attempts to map a doctrinally appropriate path from sexual sin to purity of spirit—and salvation—through complete submission to the Church and its clergy.

1er. Congrès international de le̕nseignement du dessin, tenu à Paris en lH̕ôtel du cercle de la librairie, 117, Boulevard Saint-Germain, du 29 août au 1er septembre 1900.

At head of title: Exposition universelle internationale de 1900.

Old masters and new; essays in art criticism,

Reprinted from various periodicals.

Sunday near the Church of Saint-Philippe-du-Roule, Paris

Jean Beraud; 1 ft. 11 25/64 in.x 2 ft. 7 57/64 in.; oil on canvas

Saint John on Patmos, The Virgin and Child Enthroned, and the Death of the Virgin, left wing of a diptych

Pacino di Bonaguida; 2 ft. 3/8 in. x 1 ft. 3 63/64 in.; tempera and gold leaf on panel

Saint Christopher Carrying the Christ Child

Limbourg Brothers; 8 7/64 in.x 5 55/64 in.; ink on vellum

Chasse of Champagnat, side panel with Saint Peter

4 7/8 in.x 7 7/16 in.x 3 11/32 in.; copper, engraved and gilt; champlevé ename on wood core

Chasse of Champagnat, side panel with Saint John

4 7/8 in.x 7 7/16 in.x 3 11/32 in.; copper, engraved and gilt; champlevé ename on wood core

The Feast of Herod and the Beheading of Saint John the Baptist

Benozzo Gozzoli; 9 3/8 in.x 1 ft. 1 37/64 in.; tempera on poplar panel

Virgin and Child with Saint Anne

Albrecht Dürer; 1 ft. 11 5/8 in.x 1 ft. 7 39/64 in.; oil on linden

Reliquary Casket with Scenes from the Martyrdom of Saint Thomas Becket

2 11/64 in.x 1 27/32 in.; gilded silver with niello and a glass cabochon set over a tinted foil

Reliquary Casket with Scenes from the Martyrdom of Saint Thomas Becket

2 11/64 in.x 1 27/32 in.; gilded silver with niello and a glass cabochon set over a tinted foil

Plaque with Saint Paul and His Disciples

3 11/32 in.x 4 61/64 in.; champlevé enamel, copper

Saint Anthony of Padua

Maso di Banco; 2 ft. 5 1/4 in.x 1 ft. 3 63/64 in.; tempera on wood, gold ground