Final answer:
The Royal Portal at Chartres Cathedral introduced innovations such as more realistic jamb statues, clearer and three-dimensional figures on archivolts, and larger rose windows, marking a shift from Romanesque to Gothic styles.
Step-by-step explanation:
Innovations of the Royal Portal at Chartres Compared to Romanesque Practices
The Royal Portal of Chartres Cathedral showcases several innovative features when compared to Romanesque practices. Notably, the jamb statues display a move towards a more realistic and life-like aesthetic, signaling a departure from the typically rigid and frontal figures found in Romanesque portals. Moreover, the archivolts are adorned with the figures of the twenty-four elders as well as a frontally seated Christ surrounded by the four evangelical beasts, demonstrating a leap in clarity and three-dimensionality. This could be contrasted with the Romanesque style, such as seen at Moissac, which had a more agitated figure style.
Another notable innovation is the introduction of larger windows, such as the rose windows that were added to the transepts. These grand windows allowed more light into the structure, which is one of the defining characteristics of the Gothic architectural style. The Royal Portal’s tympana, including the Coronation of the Virg in, also reflects an evolution towards greater depth and complexity in iconography, something less common in Romanesque designs where the maiestas domini theme was more prevalent.