Westelijk toegangsportaal van de Kathedraal van Exeter c. 1850 - 1880

This photograph by Francis Bedford captures the West Entrance of Exeter Cathedral. What strikes us first is the multitude of figures carved into the façade. Rows upon rows of sculptures, a dense tapestry of human forms. These are not mere decorations, but a carefully constructed symbolic program. Kings, prophets, saints – each figure embodies a specific virtue, a moral lesson. They remind me of similar programs in medieval cathedrals across Europe, echoing the symbolic order of Gothic sculpture. Consider the placement of these figures. Positioned above the entrance, they serve as guardians, intermediaries between the earthly realm and the divine. This notion of sacred figures watching over thresholds is a motif that transcends cultures and eras. Think of the Roman lares protecting the home, or the gargoyles perched atop Notre Dame. The urge to safeguard sacred spaces with powerful figures is a recurring theme in the human psyche.