churches | Words + Images

Posts Tagged ‘churches’

the spectacular ice may be gone but then …

Posted in Branches, Inspiration, Photography, Publication Updates, tagged American architecture, architecture, arts, churches, faith, Inspiration, personal correspondence, Photography, Postcards, religion, stained glass windows, stationery, tourism on January 23, 2014| 3 Comments »

… a lovely surprise appeared at my door. The postcards I mentioned as a work-in-progress in a previous post have arrived. These are images I’ve had the pleasure of taking of the stained glass windows at Trinity Church in Copley Square, Boston, a building considered one of the most significant in American architecture.

These postcards will be available at the Book Shop located in the undercroft (lower level) of the church. Learn more about the parish and current activities here and specifically tours here and about the Book Shop here. In addition to postcards of the stained glass you will also find a few of my other nature-themed postcards like the following. Happy writing! 😉

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works in progress

Posted in Inspiration, tagged A. Oudinot of Paris, architecture, art, churches, Clayton & Bell, Copley Square, creativity, Inspiration, Photography, Postcards, shopping, stained glass on January 16, 2014| 3 Comments »

It is with great pleasure to begin the year working on producing new sets of postcards for the Book Shop in Trinity Church in Copley Square, postcards that highlight just a bit the outstanding artwork and craftsmanship of the church’s interior. The above image is a detail from one of the windows in the chancel executed by Clayton & Bell of London, Jesus in the Temple with the Doctors. The following image is a detail from The Ascension, a window located in the south transept and executed by A. Oudinot of Paris.

The postcards should be available by end of the month exclusively at the shop.

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that door knob

Posted in Inspiration, tagged architecture, arts, churches, craftsmanship, design, door knob, door knobs, Inspiration, Photography on November 27, 2013| 4 Comments »

This is one of the door knobs referred to in the previous post. Now that I’ve got door knobs on my mind, I’ll have to take my own advice and look more closely at all the other knobs when I am next there. 😉

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interiors

Posted in Inspiration, tagged architecture, Boston, churches, Copley Square, craftsmanship, design, flooring, Inspiration, Photography, tours, Trinity Church in Copley Square, windows, wood on November 26, 2013| 5 Comments »

Photographing the stained glass windows at Trinity Church in Copley Square, Boston is a treat. The rich colors of the glass. How the sunlight shining through at different hours can produce a different effect in the same window. Even in those windows that are clear. But I often tell people when entering the building, don’t just look up. Look at the wood. Check out the door knobs with their intricate details, and be sure to look down. You never know what lays at your feet … or under them.

p.s. Self-guided and guided tours are available of this beautiful building. Learn more about tours here.

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in christ church, burne-jones and morris

Posted in Inspiration, On the Road, tagged angels, architecture, Christ Church, churches, colors, Edward Burne-Jones, Inspiration, Oxford, Photography, saints, stained glass, the stained glass window, travel, William Morris on November 12, 2013| 4 Comments »

The angel above represents Victory and the angel below represents Sorrow.

In the stained glass window (1878), designed by William Morris and executed by Edward Burne-Jones, the figure centered between these blue-winged angels is St. Catherine of Alexandria. If you have a chance to research her story, you’ll understand why both sorrow and victory were paired.

The face of St. Catherine is that of Edith Liddell. Her sister was the inspiration for Alice in the book, Alice in Wonderland.

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when the sun does shine …

Posted in Inspiration, On the Road, tagged architecture, arts, churches, colors, Inspiration, Oxford, Photography, stained glass windows on November 11, 2013| 1 Comment »

… I step into stone buildings, like the University Church of St. Mary the Virgin.

I had only a few moments inside the building while racing to another location so I decided to focus (of course) on the stained glass windows.

The story of the windows I will have to research later but for now I am appreciative of viewing their artistry in the autumn light.

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holiday’s transfiguration — the artist, the story, and images

Posted in Inspiration, tagged architecture, arts, churches, colors, Dante Rosetti, faith, Henry Holiday, Inspiration, interfaith dialogue, light, New Testament, Photography, Pre-Raphaelite, religion, stained glass, transfiguration, William Morris on October 7, 2013| 7 Comments »

I keep reading that Henry Holiday of London was noted for his execution of drapery, i.e. the fall of cloth, around his figurative subjects; that it was a style reminiscent of Dante Rosetti. I do love the intricate layering of cloth in these scenes from his stained glass window, The Transfiguration (1878), but it is the hands I particularly notice at present. As promised in an earlier post, here is a bit more about the artist and his creation.

Henry Holiday was born in London in 1839. His talent for drawing set him on an early artistic path where he would be influenced by Pre-Raphaelites like Burne-Jones, William Morris and Dante Rosetti. Over time, he would develop his own unique style. He traveled the world as many an artist of that period did. Trips to locales like Italy and Egypt influenced his illustration, painting, sculpture and his work with stained glass. Read more about his diverse interests and artistic expressions in this wikipedia article.

During his lifetime, Holiday did quite a bit of work for American churches, and that’s why I’ve been lucky enough to view and photograph his window, The Transfiguration, at Trinity Church in Copley Square, Boston.

The window depicts a moment described in the New Testament. The basic story is that Jesus and three of his apostles, Peter, James and John, traveled up a mountain to pray. There Jesus begins to shine like the sun, his clothes becoming white as snow. The prophets Moses and Elijah appear at his side and talk with him. Eventually “a bright cloud overshadowed them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my Beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him.” When the disciples heard this, they fell on their faces with awe. But Jesus came and touched them, saying, “Rise, and have no fear.” And when they lifted up their eyes, they saw no one but Jesus only. …” (Matthew 17:1-92, Mark 9:1-9; Luke 9:28-36; 2 Peter 1:16-18).”

There are a lot of great resources online about the significance of this moment in Christianity and its various interpretations. If you’re in Boston’s Back Bay, view Holiday’s window firsthand, especially when the sun is shining bright. Postcards and prints available in the Trinity Book Shop with shipping available worldwide.

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to shine with a bright light

Posted in Inspiration, tagged architecture, art, arts, beauty, churches, colors, faith, Henry Holiday of London, Inspiration, Jesus, Postcards, religion, stained glass, transfiguration, Trinity Church in Copley Square on September 25, 2013| 3 Comments »

That is this lay person’s interpretation of this image of The Transfiguration of Jesus, a stained glass window in Trinity Church in Copley Square. It is by Henry Holiday of London. I hope to share more about the whole window and its maker in the coming month, but meanwhile I can share that I’ve been lucky enough to photograph this center part of the window. It will be available as a postcard in the church’s Book Shop in early October. Have a good day, folks.

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in the works …

Posted in Inspiration, tagged art, Boston, Burne-Jones, churches, Fiona MacCarthy, Inspiration, madonna and child, Photography, prints, St. Francis, stained glass windows, stationery, Trnity Church in Copley Square, William Morris on July 15, 2013| 2 Comments »

Well, there’s all sorts of things I’d like to cry havoc about today but the words and thoughts aren’t coming together so I’ll simply share a few good things in the works.

a new postcard

In a 2006 article for The Guardian, biographer Fiona MacCarthy writes, “Christmas would not be Christmas without a Burne-Jones angel.” This particular angel is from a group of stained glass windows at Trinity Church commonly referred to as the Christmas windows. They depict The Journey into Egypt, Worship of the Magi, and Wonder of the Shepherds. This particular blue-winged angel is from the Wonder of the Shepherds. Designed by Burne-Jones and executed by William Morris (1882). Available in August at the Trinity Book Shop.

a new notecard

This Madonna and Child does not appear in Trinity Church. The image is the center panel of a triptych likely created over 100 years ago for a competition in Florence, Italy. A set of 5-notecards will be made available at the Trinity Book Shop closer to the holidays.

small prints

A colleague recently said, “You’re always taking pictures of that statue.” I think there’s always something new to see. This is St. Francis in the garden on the Clarendon Street side of Trinity Church. A different angle than the image in the current postcard available in the Shop. This image is available as a 5×7 print in an 8×10 mat. I find it serene and hope others will too.

special requests

I’m not on Etsy yet but luckily that hasn’t prevented friends and family from placing special orders. Through them, I sometimes see my work with new eyes. Always enjoyable. I created these notecards for a friend looking for something a little different than traditional Hallmark.

next steps?

Not sure at this very moment, except … to take a deep breath, get up from my desk and go for a brief walk out into the day. And be sure to bring my camera. 😉

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a nine minute photo shoot

Posted in Inspiration, tagged architecture, arts, Boston Back Bay, Boston Public Library, churches, colors, design, Inspiration, Photography, stained glass, Tiffany, tiffany glass on June 3, 2013| 6 Comments »

Nine minutes. That’s all the time I had to walk through the Church of the Convenant before the doors would be closed for the day. Located in Boston’s Back Bay on Newbury Street, the church is famed for its interior design work and stained glass windows by Tiffany Glass and Decorating Company. The opportunity to photograph just a bit of this interior arose the same wonderfully rainy day I had my photographic adventures in the Boston Public Library.