In some of our churches not all is what it seems. Marble columns that appear round and richly carved recede to painted curlicues. Velvet curtains that hang sumptuously are nothing more than daubed oils. Varnished woodwork the work of an illusionist.
Because that's what these are: illusions. Or, to give the proper name, it's trompe l'oeil - a French term that literally means deceives the eye. It's a technique to trick the viewer into perceiving a flat painted detail as a 3D object.
2/
At St Mary's, Mundon in Essex, the east wall has Baroque-style Commandment boards feigned in pink squiggly marble and suspended from impossibly delicate ties.
3/
Over the east window, heavy painted velvet curtains are held open by rope ties and tassels. All throwing dark shadows to trick the viewer even more. This extravagant east-end is so unexpected in this otherwise wholesome, vernacular church.
4/
In the medieval church of St Ellyw, Llanelieu in Powys, countless layers of historic wall-paintings break through the white-wash, offering up snatches of feet, flowers, verses and coats of arms.
5/
Immediately as one enters, they are greeted with a large lion rampant guardant painted in golden ochre. Its eyes are empty, St Edward's crown perched on top of its head.
(Zoom in to see the detail.)
6/
The lion was a dexter supporter of a royal coat of arms, the entire heraldic achievement is enclosed by a trompe l'oeil timber frame. The painter going to great efforts to imitate wood-grain. This technique is also seen on a couple of smaller textual panels in the church.
7/
So the next time you visit these churches, take a second look. The artists of the 18th century are still tricking eyes hundreds of years later.
8/8
• • •
Missing some Tweet in this thread? You can try to
force a refresh
A marriage of faith, farming, landscape and language, placenames remind us of the personal, poetic origins of a location. This is true for Llangua.
1/10
‘Llan’ is an enclosure usually associated with a church. The element which follows, most commonly a personal name, is mutated. Llangua is the church of St Cywa (English: Kew, Ciwa).
2/10
Although there is no obvious physical evidence for a church being here before the 12th century, the survival of that placename is our first clue in understanding the development of the religious foundation on this site.
The sanctuary of St Philip’s, Caerdeon is a bejewelled Byzantine-esque treat.
In this thread, we will explore the history and details of this beautiful ensemble.
1/7
Casting a kaleidoscope of jewel-toned light across the sanctuary, the east window was produced by the Kempe studio, one of Victorian Britain’s preeminent stained glass firms.
2/7
Intriguingly, this stunning window takes the form of a continental church altarpiece: a crucifixion scene situated within a classical frame, adorned with sumptuous baroque details such as fluted golden Corinthians, foliate swags, and flaming urns.
With a 15th-century rood loft hovering over rows of 18th-century box pews, the interior of St David’s, Llangeview in Monmouthshire offers a glimpse into the forms of worship from two bygone ages.
1/8
Spanning the entire width of the nave, the rood loft is a relic from the late medieval past. Before the Reformation, the rood loft would have carried the rood, a carving of Christ on the cross.
2/8
Alongside Christ, there would have been carved depictions of the Virgin Mary and John the Apostle. Sadly, none of the medieval roods survived the Reformation.
Caught Moss-Handed: how the rare mosses on the roof of St James’s, Llangua enabled the conviction of two criminals in the 1950s.
1/8
In the summer of 1951, a farmer spotted two men climbing on the roof of Llangua church at dusk. Unfortunately, by the time the police arrived, the men had fled the scene.
2/8
After committing further criminals acts in the local area — namely the theft of tools and car batteries — the authorities caught the men, who turned out to be two brothers that had come to Monmouthshire from Cardiff.
Across the centuries, the saintly dedication of a parish church can change — and at Manordeifi in Pembrokeshire, it is thought that the church's dedication has shifted several times throughout its long history.
1/8
A Christian place of worship at Manordeifi is believed to have stood on the site of the present church since the 7th century. The earliest church here was reportedly dedicated to St Llawddog.
2/8
A son of the Prince of Usk and a renowned as a miracle-worker, Llawddog became the focus of a popular local saintly cult. As such, there are thought to be four other churches in the region that were also originally dedicated to him.