Amiens Cathedral
Tromeau Figure
South Transept Portal
1259-69
Lester's note: The trumeau or pier is one of the most important components of most high Gothic portals. In the center of the doorway as a support for the lintel and tympanum, it frequently is adorned with a large statue of Christ or the Virgin Mary. This trumeau figure at Amiens, the "Vierge Doree" or "Golden Virgin," exemplifies the elegant style of the mid-thirteenth century. The Virgin has a fully rounded body, long sweeping drapery folds, a gracefully swaying posture, and a smile on her softly rounded face. Originally the statue was gilded and that is the source of its name.
Lester, Tulane