Behind the row of houses in the shot of Burgate, Pickering, posted yesterday is St Peter and St Pauls Church, well known for it's display of Medieval wall paintings.
The paintings are thought to have been commissioned in 1540, but a hundred years later they were covered at the time of the protestant reformation. They were rediscovered in 1852 when a piece of plaster fell from a wall. The vicar at that time didn't like them and had them covered again.
In 1876, a new vicar, the Reverend G. H. Lightfoot, took the decision to remove the whitewash and restore the paintings. The paintings cover the majority of the nave walls, depicting scenes from the Lives of the Saints, the seven corporal acts of mercy, the Passion and the Resurrection of Christ, and the Harrowing of Hell.
This section of the north nave wall shows St George on horseback, spearing the dragon which is trampled beneath his horse’s feet (on the left), A hermit with a lantern (in the centre) and St Christopher crossing a river with the Christ child on his shoulder (on the right).
This collection of wall paintings are considered amongst the best in Britain. They are well worth a look if you are ever in the Pickering area.
Well done to Rev. Lightfoot. I saw something similar at the Warwick Minster years ago. And something similar happened in the governor 's palace when Malta was under British rule. Pity such artistic work is ruined. The Maltese ones have been gorgeously restored and are visited by hundreds of thousands of tourists every year.
Thank you all for your lovely comments and favs, they are very much appreciated.
We are very fortunate that these paintings have survived. I have visited several churches in Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire that have interesting wall paintings, but nothing on the scale of these at Pickering.
It's very difficult to portray Art. Is the original sharp, the correct colour, the right colour balance, the right perspective etc.? Sometimes you just have to be satisfied with having seen it and having a go at it.
The original is quite variable in condition, some of it being almost black and white. The real issue though are the windows, with bright light streaming in, and which can overpower the pictures beside them. It would be interesting to have a go on a dull day with the camera on a tripod. It is good to have a challenge to work on!
Thank you all for your lovely comments and favs, they are very much appreciated.
We are very fortunate that these paintings have survived. I have visited several churches in Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire that have interesting wall paintings, but nothing on the scale of these at Pickering.
Ian
Thank you Vesna, it is wonderful that these paintings have survived.
Ian
Thank you Paul. I find these paintings quite remarkable, but sadly I still haven't taken a shot that I am really happy with.
Ian
The original is quite variable in condition, some of it being almost black and white. The real issue though are the windows, with bright light streaming in, and which can overpower the pictures beside them. It would be interesting to have a go on a dull day with the camera on a tripod. It is good to have a challenge to work on!
Ian