October 1, 2014 by Cynthia
You’ll find Ieposolyma-The New Jerusalem in an area known as the north transept of Trinity Church in Copley Square. It is an upper level window that rests beside another John La Farge masterpiece, The Resurrection (1902). The New Jerusalem was completed and installed eight years earlier in 1884.
As described by scholar James L. Yarnall in his biographical study of John La Farge, this window depicts “the vision of the New Jerusalem described in the book of Revelation. The design fused Byzantine architecture and Mannerist figures from Correggio with a dazzling array of jeweled opalescent glasses.”
If you’re in Boston, see firsthand how the sunlight shines through all of this magnificent glass — this window apparently contains every kind of glass La Farge ever used including pressed jewels, confetti glass, and opalescent glass. Tour information available here.
I tend to focus on the pieces that make up the whole, but if you search online you’ll find some photographs of the whole window, like this one.
Posted in Inspiration | Tagged architecture, art, churches, colors, design, George Nixon Black, Ieposolyma, Inspiration, John La Farge, New Jerusalem, Photography, stained glass windows, tours | 1 Comment »
September 28, 2014 by Cynthia
I have an unofficial postcard club of 5, 6 and 7 year olds. It is mostly a quarterly mailing of nature-themed images. I have offered to hand the postcards to my young friends but they seem to like the idea of a handwritten note, a stamp applied, and the piece of paper traveling around the world (so to speak) before winding up in their mailbox, addressed to them specifically. I have told the older ones that one day soon I expect a note in return. 😉
If you follow this blog, you know how much I love producing postcards of the stained glass windows at Trinity Church in Copley Square. Of late, I’ve been focusing my attention on the painted walls. Expect a future post about the original paintings orchestrated by John La Farge in the late 1800s and later painting done over the decades during various renovations.
This postcard is of St. Paul on the west porch of Trinity Church. I especially love the reflection of the church in the glass of the neighboring John Hancock building. This postcard is now available at the Shop at Trinity Church.
Posted in Inspiration, Nature Notes | Tagged art, colors, handwritten note, Inspiration, John La Farge, letter writing, nature, paintings, Photography, Postcards, stationery, Trinity Church | Leave a Comment »
September 25, 2014 by Cynthia
The story behind the image: Steve and I were taking a short walk along Revere Beach. The tide had receded quite a bit. He followed the water. I stayed on shore searching out seashells and stones and wishing I’d worn a thicker sweater. As he returned to me, he suddenly paused and shouted, “Come here. You have to see this.” I raced over and looked down at where he was pointing. Lines and curves in the sand? “Bifurcation diagrams in nature,” he exclaimed. I peered more closely, frowning. He tried explaining the mathematics of what he saw for me. “It’s like the multiplication of little streams leading to chaos.” “Well,” I said slowly, “I’m reminded of those Asian landscape paintings of mountains with cascading waterfalls over the rocks.” We studied the sand for a bit longer, he helping to point out different ways to frame photographs of the bifurcation he was seeing, and we both appreciating our different perspectives of the world.
A poster print of this “mountainous” scene is available online here.
Posted in Inspiration | Tagged abstract, art, bifurcation diagrams, Inspiration, mathematics, perspective, Photography, physics, poster, science, storytelling | Leave a Comment »
September 24, 2014 by Cynthia
Posted in Inspiration | Tagged architecture, art, beauty, colors, Copley Square, design, Henry Hobson Richardson, Inspiration, John La Farge, Richardsonian Romanesque, Trinity Church | 1 Comment »
September 24, 2014 by Cynthia
scenes along the Charles River
Posted in Inspiration, Nature Notes | Tagged animals, beauty, birds, Charles River, colors, Esplanade, feathers, mallard ducks, nature, Photography, urban landscape, water | 7 Comments »
September 23, 2014 by Cynthia
These are the hands of St. Paul, St. Peter and Jesus as painted by John La Farge in the murals for Trinity Church. I was inspired to create this compilation by the moving images and words in Steve McCurry’s recent post, The Language of Hands. I may write more about hands in the future, but for now, I hope you enjoy these images.
St. Paul’s hands
St. Peter, the key in his hand
Jesus with Nicodemus, hands resting
Hands of Christ and Woman at the Well
St. Paul
The Visit of Nicodemus to Christ
Posted in Inspiration | Tagged architecture, art, beauty, body language, churches, colors, hands, Inspiration, John La Farge, murals, painting, Photography, St. Paul, St. Peter, Trinity Church in the City of Boston | 2 Comments »
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