Behold the human.
The civil authority presents the person, bound and crowned with thorns, to the crowd. This is Jacob Epstein’s statue, positioned on the wall of the ruined cathedral.
Twin charred beams that had chanced to fall upon one another were wired together as a cross by a stonemason walking over the rubble: many others were later manufactured of nails from the building, wrecked by bombs and fire in November 1940.
This edifice, the medieval ruins linked to the modernist cathedral, humanity rebuilding from war’s destruction, is a myth in stone, spinning a narrative and tugging at the heart. A life ago, I learned it is spiritual faith that moves us, and this does not require narrow belief in superstition. I was moved then by witness, not my own, which sat in the street sharing food with homeless people, crossed into rowdy pubs, found the story in each person’s ended life, stood in comradeship on the picket line and preached liberation at the pulpit.
A conversation with Portrait of Wildflowers blogger Steven Schwartzman had turned to the artist John Piper. Many of his pieces are built of strong black drawn lines, then enriched with colour. He is an inspiration. He designed stained glass windows for the new Coventry cathedral.
These are not them. These were designed by Lawrence Lee. My daughter had charge of the camera and afterwards I realised we had no more than a glancing shot of Piper’s baptistry, drowned in daylight.
The old cathedral is seen through, and reflected in, the nave’s west window, engraved with figures of the patriarchs, the disciples and saints, with lots of angels. It’s an boys’ night out with the token girl in the middle.
The style of that statue reminds me of various Polynesian works.
And yes, it was good to learn about John Piper.
Yes I agree but the credit for that is to the sculptor not to me for my drawing. I found it a powerful and striking sculpture.
Sorry no photos of pipers windows though.
The drawing is fantastic, suited to printing?
Thanks
I was pleased with it
I’ll post the drawing I did the same day of my daughter next. It’s a contrast. Lines go all over place. This one is much more controlled, and I drew the lines in fountain pen which grips the paper more than a brush pen. However I did the shading later, giving me time to think. I am going to try to develop this approach a bit.
An interesting juxtapostion of the interpretation of faith. I like your drawing a lot. (K)
Its just how going to that place, where I used to go more often at another time, made me feel. It’s not necessarily coherent nor do I seek to persuade others of my interpretation, though always happy to discuss.
The architecture echoes and inspires that kind of reflection I think.
I admire Piper but have not seen his stained glass work. I love your drawings by the way.
Epstein piece immediately recognisable from your drawing.
Thanks
I come across his sculptures by accident every now and again. As you say, they are immediately recognisable as his, and they are all breathtakingly powerful pieces.
Yes, I agree. Not many sculptors of his calibre around these days.
I love the drawing style of the Epstein sculpture, it really captures the essence of the work. I agree, it would work beautifully as a print, maybe a woodcut?
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