portal has in its tympanum (or triangular space in the summit of the arch)
the Coronation of the Virgin, and on its center pillar a good figure of
the Madonna and Child. Enter the Lower Church. It is low, and has pillars
supporting the floor above. In the polychromatic decoration of the walls
and pillars, notice the frequent repetition of the royal lilies of France,
combined with the three castles of Castille, in honor of Blanche of
Castille, the Mother of St. Louis.

Mount to the Upper Chapel (or Sainte Chapelle proper) by the small spiral
staircase in the corner. This soaring pile was the oratory where the royal
family and court attended service; its gorgeousness bespeaks its origin
and nature. It glows like a jewel. First go out of the door and examine
the exterior and doorway of the chapel. Its platform was directly
approached in early times from the Palace. The center pillar bears a fine
figure of Christ. In the tympanum (as over the principal doorway of almost
every important church in Paris and in the district) is a relief of the
Last Judgment. 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,