These two stained glass panels come from two of the 15 bays of the Sainte-Chapelle, built at the request of St Louis (1226—1270) to house the relics of the Passion that he had recently acquired.
On one of the panels, Samson is tearing open the jaws of the lion (Cl. 14474). This first episode in the battle of the biblical hero reveals the invincible strength that he has been given and which he would put to work for his people (the Hebrews) against the Philistines.
The skillful technique of the “grisaille” painting on glass, the elegant choice of colors (for the Four Characters panel) and the dynamic lines (for Samson and the Lion), as well as their prestigious provenances, are all the hallmark of the great 13th century painter-glassmakers in service of the king.
Granted to the museum in 1859.
Restored with the support of the Gaz de France corporate foundation.
The Bay of Exodus: Royal Fratricide or the Zeal of the Levites
Inventory number
Cl. 144723
Width
85 cm
Height
85,7 cm
Original location
Sainte-Chapelle (Paris)
Medium
Glass ; Stained glass
Method of acquisition
Attributed to the Musée de Cluny in 1859
Exodus Bay. Brothers of Joseph
Inventory number
Cl. 23711
Width
43,6 cm
Height
43,4 cm
Original location
Sainte-Chapelle (Paris)
Medium
Glass ; Stained glass
Method of acquisition
Attributed to the Musée de Cluny in 1859
Bay of Numbers. Heraldic panels
Inventory number
Cl. 14470
Width
42,9 cm
Height
75,4 cm
Original location
Sainte-Chapelle (Paris)
Medium
Glass ; Stained glass
Method of acquisition
Attributed to the Musée de Cluny in 1859
Bay of Numbers. Heraldic panels
Inventory number
Cl. 14471
Width
41,4 cm
Height
76,9 cm
Original location
Sainte-Chapelle (Paris)
Medium
Glass ; Stained glass
Method of acquisition
Attributed to the Musée de Cluny in 1859
Bay of Numbers. Four characters
Inventory number
Cl. 14474
Width
53,5 cm
Height
71,7 cm
Original location
Sainte-Chapelle (Paris)
Medium
Glass ; Stained glass
Method of acquisition
Attributed to the Musée de Cluny in 1859
Bay of the Most Christian Kings. Silvestre refuses Constantine’s order to worship the idol
Inventory number
Cl. 23720
Width
73,5 cm
Height
72,5 cm
Original location
Sainte-Chapelle (Paris)
Medium
Glass ; Stained glass
Method of acquisition
Attributed to the Musée de Cluny in 1859
Job's Bay (?). A demon and a woman
Inventory number
Cl. 23715
Width
51,6 cm
Height
51,3 cm
Original location
Sainte-Chapelle (Paris)
Medium
Glass ; Stained glass
Method of acquisition
Attributed to the Musée de Cluny in 1859
Bay of the Judges. The sacrifice of Samson’s parents
Inventory number
Cl. 14479
Width
49,9 cm
Height
88,1 cm
Original location
Sainte-Chapelle (Paris)
Medium
Glass ; Stained glass
Method of acquisition
Attributed to the Musée de Cluny in 1859
Baie des Juges. Samson and the Lion
Inventory number
Cl. 23723
Height
71,2 cm
Original location
Sainte-Chapelle (Paris)
Medium
Glass ; Stained glass
Method of acquisition
Attributed to the Musée de Cluny in 1859
Bay of the Judges. Samson’s eyes gouged out by the Philistines
Inventory number
Cl. 14480
Width
46,5 cm
Height
86 cm
Original location
Sainte-Chapelle (Paris)
Medium
Glass ; Stained glass
Method of acquisition
Attributed to the Musée de Cluny in 1859
Bay of the Judges. The Philistines defeated by Samson
Inventory number
Cl. 14481
Width
48,7 cm
Height
78,5 cm
Original location
Sainte-Chapelle (Paris)
Medium
Glass ; Stained glass
Method of acquisition
Attributed to the Musée de Cluny in 1859
Bay of the Judges. Samson and the millstone
Inventory number
Cl. 23718
Diameter
61,5 cm
Original location
Sainte-Chapelle (Paris
Medium
Glass ; Stained glass
Method of acquisition
Attributed to the Musée de Cluny in 1859
Bay of the Judges. Samson blinded
Inventory number
Cl. 14477
Width
85 cm
Height
42,6 cm
Original location
Sainte-Chapelle (Paris)
Medium
Glass ; Stained glass
Method of acquisition
Attributed to the Musée de Cluny in 1859
Bay of the Judges. Samson makes his way towards the temple
Inventory number
Cl. 14478
Width
43 cm
Height
82,5 cm
Original location
Sainte-Chapelle (Paris)
Medium
Glass ; Stained glass
Method of acquisition
Attributed to the Musée de Cluny in 1859
Bay of the Judges. The Posthumous Coronation of Samson
