Chartres Cathedral offers a rare opportunity to study the development of the iconography of Virtues and Vices in medieval sculpture.
On two occasions, the cycle of allegorical figures was carved in stone. By the end of the twelfth century, seven pairs had been included in the north façade, and by the beginning of the thirteenth century, twelve pairs had been depicted in the south façade. Through these images, one can appreciate the evolution of this iconography in medieval sculpture, from the Psychomachia motif to the Triumphant Virtues.
Jennifer Solivan, PhD
Medieval art specialist, University of Puerto Rico
Jennifer Solivan Robles holds a PhD and MA in Art History from the University of Salamanca. Her research includes medieval tomb sculpture, the virtues and vices in manuscripts and sculpture, and mnemonics.
Currently she is studying the relationship between images of the virtues and vices, mnemonics and preaching. This has been possible thanks to several grants and awards such as the Frances A. Yates Short-term Fellowship from The Warburg Institute, the Olivia Remie Constable Award from the Medieval Academy of America and the ICMA-Kress Research and Publication Grant from International Center for Medieval Art. She teaches western culture courses, with emphasis on the Middle Ages and Medieval Cathedrals at the General Studies College of the University of Puerto Rico. She has numerous conference presentations and publications in English and Spanish.
