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.


Friday, 25 July 2014

Santiago de Compostela


Today is the feast of St James the Great, whose great shrine church is, of course, the cathedral of Santiago de Compostela in Galicia.


Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela, Spain

Santiago de Compostela cathedral

Image:sacredsites.com


Recently, with the help of a friend, I acquired a very handsome glossy handbook - it is more than the usual guide book - to this remarkable and majestic building.

There is a detailed, illustrated online account of the building and its complex history at Santiago de Compostela Cathedral.

An article from the Financial Times travel pages writes about the current conservation of the twelfth century sculpture of the Portico de la Gloria in the west front at Santiago de Compostela's sacred sculptures.


http://www.turnbacktogod.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/08/the-celebrated-portico-de-la-gloria.jpg

The Portico de la Gloria

Image:turnbacktogod.com

http://www.turnbacktogod.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/08/statues-of-prophets-on-the-portico-de-la-gloria.jpg 

Statues of Prophets on the Portico 

Image:turnbacktogod.com

http://www.turnbacktogod.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/08/cloisters-of-santiago-cathedral.jpg


The late medieval cloisters


Image:turnbacktogod.com


On this his feast day may we entreat St James to ever pray for Spain, its King and people, and for the Church in that realm and for all pilgrims to Compostela

2 comments:

Patricius said...

For anyone wanting a taster, there is a plaster cast of the Portico de la Gloria in the Cast Court of the Victoria and Albert Museum.

Once I Was A Clever Boy said...

Although I have not visited Santiago I have seen the cast of the Portico ge la Gloria in the V&A. What is awe-inspiring is not only the wonderous sculpture but the sheer scale of the composition of the doorways.