Once I was a clever boy learning the arts of Oxford... is a quotation from the verses written by Bishop Richard Fleming (c.1385-1431) for his tomb in Lincoln Cathedral. Fleming, the founder of Lincoln College in Oxford, is the subject of my research for a D. Phil., and, like me, a son of the West Riding. I have remarked in the past that I have a deeply meaningful on-going relationship with a dead fifteenth century bishop... it was Fleming who, in effect, enabled me to come to Oxford and to learn its arts, and for that I am immensely grateful.


Tuesday 25 September 2012

Amiens at night


Writing about Amiens cathedral earlier reminded me that I had on file these pictures of the west front as it can be seen at night, when an idea of the original colour scheme of its painted statuary can be re-created by modern technology.



None of the great thirteenth century French Cathedrals has been repainted, but Amiens Cathedral offers its visitors a hint of its original beauty. On summer nights and special occasions, spotlights and lasers are projected at the façade, bathing the ornaments and statuary in bright colours.

 




Images amyinberlin
I also found on YouTube two short film sequences that give an idea of the spectacle Amiens affords on these occasions, and a reminder of just what medieval worshippers and pilgrims saw as they approached and entered the cathedral of Notre Dame:




1 comment:

Anonymous said...

Thanks for this! Gives a new dimention to Gothic.

James Morgan
olympia WA