Monday, April 22, 2013

St. Mary Magdalene Paddington

This High Victorian Gothic church near the Little Venice area of London was designed by G.E. Street and built 1867-78.


Six hexagonal mosaics by Salviati surround the chancel - four to the left of the altar and two to the right.


A catalog of Salviati's works from after 1903 shows the original designs for two of the medallions.


The Good Shepherd: "I am the Good Shepherd I know my sheep"


The return of the Prodigal Son: "Father, I have sinned against Heaven and before Thee"


The woman taken in adultery: "Neither do I condemn Thee go and sin no more"


Raising of Lazarus: "And he that was dead came forth"


St. Peter's denial: "The Lord turned and looked upon Peter"


The impotent man at the pool of Bethesda: "Go and sin no more lest a worse thing come unto Thee"


The 2012 film "Les Miserables" used the Crypt Chapel of St. Sepulchre in this church as the Bishop's chapel, featuring scenes with Hugh Jackman as Jean Valjean. Although that scene takes place in the 1860s, the actual crypt wasn't built until 1895.


Sources:
Erede Dr. A. Salviati & Co. Venezia Catalog. Items 112 & 113. "The Life of Christ made for London. 25 sq. ft. each. 2nd Cat." After 1903. Courtesy of @Troyoz on Twitter
British Listed Buildings
Victorian Web
Rex Harris' flickr Photostream
YouTube

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