The transept portals of Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris

In the mid-13th century, the newly completed Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris received new transept facades featuring elaborate figurative portals. This well-preserved architecture and sculpture reveal much about the experimental spirit of medieval builders, as well as the preservationist approach to the Middle Ages in the 19th century. A research team from the University of Bamberg has studied this over several years using new methods and questions. This volume presents the results of this scholarly exchange. How can we envision the planning and execution processes of this outstanding Parisian workshop? What does the iconographic program say about the self-image of its ecclesiastical patrons? What is the relationship between the iconography and the portal, the site of its installation? How has the appearance of the portals changed up to the present day?.