t und Alterthum in Elsass-Lothringen_, von
Prot. F. X. Kraus, I. Band. With numerous wood-engravings. 1877.

[Illustration: Porch of Saint-Lawrence.]

The whole of the facade is formed of the two fore-parts of the
northern and southern towers and of the large central porch;
these three distinct portions are separated by counterforts or
pillars which divide, as it were, the frontispiece into three
broad vertical bands, each of which has its portico. These
porticos and their frontons are ornamented with a great many
statues and bas-reliefs, some of which pulled down during the
revolution, have since been replaced. The large figures in the
left portico are twelve virgins, wearing diadems and trampling
down human forms representing the seven deadly sins. On both
sides of the right hand portico are seen the ten virgins of the
parable; to the group of the wise virgins on the right is joined
the statue of Jesus-Christ; the foolish virgins composing the
group on the left side, have among them an allegoric figure
expressing the lust of the world: on her head is a wreath, in one
hand she holds an apple, the ancient symbol of lust; her back
bears hideous vipers, to portray the sad fate which must be the
inevitable result of inordinate earthly desires.

All these statues, now blackened by the centuries that have
passed over them, have all a stern appearance, like those that
deck the magnificent middle porch representing either prophets of
the Old Testament, Apostles or fathers of the Church. In the
arches of these three porticos are figures of a smaller size,
which like the bas-reliefs of the tympans, exhibit either scenes
taken from Scripture, or saints and angels. In the tympan on the
right hand door, Jesus is seen seated on a rain-bow, and over him
is the Resurrection of the dead and the Judgment-day. On the
butting pillar that divides both folds of the middle porch[1], is
placed a blessed Virgin holding an infant Christ in her arms. The
fronton of this portal is formed by two triangles and adorned
with many figures; that on the summit of the interior triangle,
which first strikes the eye, is king Solomon seated under a
canopy; on both sides of him are fourteen lions raised on steps
or benches that draw near towards the top and join near a Virgin
Mary sitting with the infant Christ on one arm and holding a
globe in her other hand; she is the Patroness of the church.
Above her a radiated head, representing God the Father,