Part 8 (1/2)

=The Interior of the Northern Transept=

(_See plan, p. 33, and the Exterior, p. 42._)

The inner facade is partially hidden by the great organ, built about 1487 and transformed several times since then. Of the original organ the loft only remains, the Gothic bal.u.s.trading of which is pierced with Flamboyant arcading.

[Ill.u.s.tration: THE NORTHERN TRANSEPT _(see p. 33)_]

The facade originally consisted of three lofty bays with lancet-shaped windows surmounted by a gallery lighted by three rose-windows of six lobes each and one of twelve lobes. The subsequent addition of a doorway about the _middle_ of the 13th century caused the partial suppression of the bays, of which the transformed summits alone remain.

Almost all the high windows of the transept contained 13th century _grisaille_ gla.s.s, which was damaged or broken by the bombardments, as was also the 13th century stained-gla.s.s of the great rose-window (repaired in 1869), which represented _The Story of the Creation_ and _The Fall of Adam_.

The reverse side of the Central Door is bare, except the dividing pillar, the statue of which is hidden by the 18th century wooden tambour.

The small western side-door, which formerly communicated with the cloister of the Chapter, is entirely covered with 18th century woodwork.

The adjoining bay, closed in by a beautiful 13th century wrought-iron railing, is the old chartulary or muniment room of the Chapter. Near the railing, in the corner of the transept, is a clock with automatons, which come out when the hours strike. Its woodwork is 14th and 15th century and its works 17th and 18th century.

To the right of the door of the organ stair, a =tombstone= to =Hugues Libergier= was set up against the wall. He was the architect who, in 1231, commenced the abbatial church of St. Nicaise. The tombstone has been in the Cathedral since 1800. The altar in the Lady-Chapel, surmounted with a statue by Francois Ladatte (1742), replaced a Gothic altar-screen destroyed in 1739.

The picture _The Was.h.i.+ng of the Disciples' Feet_ is by Jerome Muziano.

On the western walls of the transept is a fine tapestry, the pendant of which is in the south transept. These two great tapestries, made at the Gobelins, after cartoons by Raphael, represent the life of St. Paul.

They were removed in 1914, at the same time as those in the aisles.

[Ill.u.s.tration: THE VAULTING OF THE CHOIR FELL IN ON THE HIGH ALTAR _The photo on p. 31 shows the collapse, seen from above._]

=The Choir=

(_See the Chevet, p. 46._)

The ambulatory with its radiating chapels is of incomparable beauty.

Excepting the larger central chapel, known as the _Chapel of the Holy Sacrament_, which is nine-sided, each chapel has seven sides rising from a circular floor.

In each chapel, three windows similar to those of the nave, light the three hindmost walls. Blind windows imitate the true ones on the side walls.

At the base of the windows a narrow gallery, pa.s.sing through the pillars, continues all along the side-aisles of the transept and nave--a peculiarity in Champagne architecture.

The 13th century stained-gla.s.s of the high windows was destroyed by the bombardment of September 19, 1914.

In April, 1917, part of the vaulting fell in on the High Altar (_photo above_).

The costly marble High Altar was erected in 1747 by Canon G.o.dinot, who spent considerable sums in making alterations to the Cathedral, not all of which were happy. Its six chandeliers date from the consecration of Charles X.

The High Altar of the rear choir dates from 1764 and came from the Church of St. Nicaise. On either side of this altar are two 14th century tumulary stones. Behind is the tomb of Cardinal de Lorraine.

The small pulpit of the rear choir, the medallions of which depict the life of St. Theresa, dates from 1678. It is a gift of the widow of M.

Pommery (_photo below_).

Twenty-two archbishops of Rheims were buried under the choir pavement.