Simeon Statue - Reims Cathedral

Early gothic statue of Simeon (1220) holding the Christ child, part of the right hand portal of Reims Cathedral.  It reflects key features of early Gothic sculpture, combining religious symbolism with a gradual move toward naturalism. Particularly in the attention to the drapery's folds and the emotional expressions marks a shift from Romanesque rigidity to the more humanistic approach of the Gothic. The child’s body is small and stylized, dressed in a similarly flowing robe, mirroring adult proportions common in medieval depictions of children.