Below stands St. Michael with his scales, weighing the
souls; on either side is depicted the Resurrection, with the Angels of the
Last Trump. Above, in the second tier, is Christ, holding up His hands
with the marks of the nails, as a sign of mercy to the redeemed: to right
and left of Him angels display the Crown of Thorns and the True Cross, to
contain which sacred relics the chapel was built.
On the extreme left kneels the Blessed Virgin; on the extreme right,
Sainte Genevieve. This scene of the Last Judgment was adapted with a few
alterations from that above the central west door of Notre Dame, the Crown
of Thorns in particular being here significantly substituted for the three
nails and spear. The small lozenge reliefs to right and left of the portal
are also interesting. Those to the left represent in a very naive manner
God the Father creating the world, sun and moon, light, plants, animals,
man, etc. Those to the right give the story of Genesis, Cain and Abel, the
Flood, the Ark, Noah's Sacrifice, Noah's Vine, etc., the subjects of all
which the visitor can easily recognize, and is strongly recommended to
identify for himself.
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