Between the house of Vermandois and the church stands the Chapter House (_see p. 59_). [Illustration: THE WEST DOOR OF THE CATHEDRAL] The twelfth century doorway was damaged during the Revolution. The great statues were decapitated but have since been restored. The bas-reliefs suffered considerably, also. This is the first doorway consecrated to the Virgin. Its design served as a model for those of the Cathedrals of Chartres, Rheims, Amiens, and Notre-Dame de Paris. The bas-relief of the lintel, shown below, represents, on its left side, the death of the Virgin. This part is much damaged. The apostles encircle the bed on which the Virgin is lying, two of them swinging censers. Two winged-angels bear away the Virgin's soul, portrayed as a new-born babe wrapped in a swaddling cloth. The right side, which represents the Resurrection of the Virgin, is in a better state of preservation. An angel stands ready to crown Mary, who is raised from her bed by three others, while a fourth leans forward the better to see over those in front. All this sculpture shows a truth and freedom of attitude of which very few examples are found in the twelfth century. Above the lintel, in the tympanum, is the Triumph of the Virgin; the execution of this work is far from equal to that of the lintel. In the niches of the arches are statues of the patriarchs, the prophets and the kings of Judah. The eight great statues which flank the door represent personages from the Old Testament. The one nearest the door, on the left, is Abraham. He holds his son by the hair and stands ready to behead him, but an angel restrains his sword. Beneath the pedestals of the large statues is a "+Calendar+," _i.e._, a set of symbolical scenes typifying the twelve months of the year, or the seasons. That of Senlis is carved with much spirit. [Illustration: LINTEL OF CATHEDRAL DOORWAY] [Illustration: CALENDAR OF THE CATHEDRAL (right) =1.= _January._ The month of feasts. The peasant, seated at table, prepares to drink. =2.= _February._ Work is at a standstill. The peasant is at the fireside. =3.= _March._ Work begins again. The peasant digs. =4.= _April._ With the spring the time has come to care for the trees. =5.= _May._ The lord, his falcon on his wrist, goes forth to hunt. =6.= _June._ The peasant mows his meadows. =7.= _July._ It is the beginning of the harvest.] [Illustration: CALENDAR OF THE CATHEDRAL (left) =8.= _August._ The peasant threshes the grain. =9.= _September._ The peasant gathers the grapes. =10.= _October._ The peasant gathers in his crops. =11.= _November._ The peasant kills his pig. =12.= _December._ The peasant puts cakes in the oven for the fêtes at the end of the year.] The south front of the cathedral has not the harmony of that of the west.