Liverpool Cathedral

I visited Liverpool Cathedral today to see Monadic Singularity by Anish Kapoor. Liverpool Cathedral is the largest cathedral in Britain and the 5th largest Cathedral in the world. It is filled with amazing artwork including statues, paintings and sculptures. It also hosts many installations such as Monadic Singularity.

Churches and Cathedrals have provided inspiration to some of the Western world’s greatest music and visual art. At times of widespread illiteracy, visual art in churches was a powerful means of both communication and control. At Liverpool Cathedral there is art for everyone to enjoy, whether that be a traditional painting, a classic stained glass window or the instagramable neon sign under the West Window. In keeping with the vastness of the building, Liverpool Cathedral has good examples of larger works by five Royal Academicians: Craigie Aitchison; Tracey Emin; Elisabeth Frink; Christopher Le Brun; and Adrian Wiszniewski, alongside works by a number of other contemporary artists.

While making your way around the Cathedral you will encounter:

• The Welcoming Christ Sculpture by Elizabeth Frink: This is the first piece of art you will see when coming into the Cathedral. On Easter Day 1993, Elizabeth Frink’s The Welcoming Christ was unveiled at Liverpool Cathedral. The artist died a few days later, but the sculpture was enough to establish her as one of the foremost religious sculptors of the century.
• ‘For You’ Light Installation by Tracey Emin: Located at the West Window, the purpose of this neon art installation is to encourage the viewer to think about love and the need to share love. It is specifically placed over the main doors of the Cathedral for people to spend time in contemplation as they enter or before they leave the building.The work was commissioned by the Chapter of Liverpool Cathedral as a principal contribution to Liverpool’s year as European Capital of Culture 2008.
• Painting of Crucifixion by Gary Bunt: Bert, his dog, our God – An artist’s impression of the New Testament. Gary paints in ‘the shed’ (his studio) which is nestled in his garden which he has designed and landscaped so the village church spire can be seen from his easel. 
• Icon of the Trinity Painting by Cristi Paslaru: As you enter The Baptistry you will notice this piece. This icon is a copy, by the contemporary Romanian iconographer Cristi Paslaru, of the original 15th century piece deemed to be by the Russian painter Andrei Rublev, whose original work hangs in the Tretyakov Gallery in Moscow.
• The Outraged Christ by Charles Lutyens: Entering the Derby Transept you will see the ‘Outraged Christ’ sculpture. It is a 15ft high depiction in wood, iron, and steel of the Crucifixion of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. Made of hard and soft wood, drilled, dowelled and bound together with powerful construction adhesive, it was shaped primarily with a large chisel and chainsaw by Charles Lutyens. Charles decided to become an artist while at Bryanston School in Dorset. He studied oil painting and sculpture at the Chelsea, Slade, St Martin’s and Central Schools of Art in London, and later in 1957 with Andre Lhote in Paris. This sculpture was started some 40 years ago, while sitting outside College – Over a period of days he sculpted the head of Christ. You can find out more about Charles Lutyens here.
• LJMU Cross sculpture by J. R. M. Robertson: This Cross was presented to Liverpool Cathedral by Liverpool Polytechnic on the Tenth Anniversary of the Polytechnic in 1980. The sculpture was designed and constructed by J. R. M. Robertson of the Fine Art Department. 
• The Good Samaritan by Adrian Wisznieski: Located in the South Choir Aisle, The Good Samaritan was Commissioned in 1995 and given to the Cathedral in March 1996. Funded by the Jerusalem Trust, £94000 for 2 paintings and £11750 framing. 
• Kneeling Madonna by Giovanni De La Robbia: Donated by Francis Neilson a 15th century statue in wood of the Kneeling Madonna by Giovanni Della Robbia is complemented by a figure of the Baby Christ Child in The Lady Chapel. 
• The Baby Christ Child by Don MacKinlay: In 2002, the Cathedral Chapter commissioned the Rossendale artist, Don McKinlay, to create a Christ-child to be set alongside the Madonna. The commission was given in memory of Dean Derrick Walters who died in 2000.
• Josephine Butler Windows: The Josephine Butler Trust commissioned the work to restore the Noble Women windows within the Lady Chapel. The nineteenth century social reformer and campaigner for women’s rights is one of the 12 women featured in the windows. The trust works to keep her vision alive and annually celebrates current social reformers.
• At the End…A Beginning by Richard Harrison: The artist Richard Harrison, whose triptych ‘Crucifixion: At the End… A Beginning’ hangs in the Cathedral Ambulatory, it was accepted to exhibit at the John Moores 2010 Exhibition at the Walker Art Gallery. 
• Risen Christ Maquette by Elizabeth Frink: This Marquette is located in the Ambulatory… Dame Elisabeth Frink was an English sculptor and printmaker born in Suffolk November 1930. She studied at the Guilford School of Art and at the Chelsea School of Art. She became a part of a post-war group of British sculptors. 
• Calvary by John Ronald Craigie Aitchison CBE RSA RA: This painting is located in The Chapter House- it was Commissioned by the Dean and Chapter of Liverpool Cathedral and was dedicated on 8th July 1998 at Evensong. The artist has a deep feeling for the crucifixion. He captures the desolation, the horror, and the pain; but at the same time, he manages in his frugal style, to signal the crucifixion as the gateway to hope and resurrection. 
• The Holy Family by Josefina Vasconcellos: Josefina de Vasconcellos was an internationally renowned sculptor who was born in Molesey in Surrey in 1904. Vasconcellos was awarded the Order of the British Empire in 1985 for her community work for disadvantaged and disabled children. This sculpture is located in The Children’s Chapel. 
• Painting of Liverpool Cathedral by Hannah Thompson: This beautiful painting of the Cathedral and its surroundings is located in The Children’s Chapel. 
• Our Lady of Walsingham by Unknown: This impressive sculpture is located in the North Choir Aisle. 
• House Built Upon Rock by Adrian Wiszniewski: Located in the North Choir Aisle, this painting was Commissioned in 1995 and given to the Cathedral in March 1996. Funded by the Jerusalem Trust, £94000 for 2 paintings and £11750 framing. An allegory of The House Built Upon Rock will show a family at the seaside with a serpentine sand snake, sandcastles, buckets and spades. The painting is using the parable as a premonition of Christ’s crucifixion. 
• Cross Icon painting by Ludmila Pawlowska: She is a Kazakh Post-war and contemporary artist who was born in 1964. Numerous Art Galleries and museums have featured Ludmila’s work. This piece is located in The Chapel of The Holy Spirit. 
• The Redemption by Arthur Dooley and Anne McTavish: On the 12th March 1997, The Fabric advisory committee approved the application to display a sculpture and tapestry “The Redemption” by Sculptor Arthur Dooley and Embroiderer Ann McTavish in the chapel of the Holy Spirit.
• Christi Paslaru pieces in Chapel of The Holy Spirit: Large Icons Painting – The Icons were painted on boards that have been cut to size and sculpted in a Monastery. They are made of lime wood with oak struts on the back which prevent warping. The wood is prepared in the traditional manner with a canvas and several layers of gesso (plaster). The style of painting is known as Tempera on Wood.
• Memorial Bust Noel Chavasse by Terry Mc Donald: Located in The Memorial Chapel this sculpture is made by Terry Mcdonald. His apprenticeship began when he was still a teenager at the Bluecoat Studios, he was there for 10 years. In Liverpool Cathedral he worked on some of the intricate finials of the huge columns after they were damaged in a storm. 
• The Prodigal Son by Christopher Le Brun: Located on the left side of the Presbytery, this painting was made in 1996. The phrase from the parable of the Prodigal Son (Luke 15:11-32) which inspired the artist was ‘He saw him while he was still far off…’. The road winds towards us from the distant land through which the son had travelled. As he approaches, head down, arms at his side, he is greeted by the dog that jumps up in recognition. 
• The Good Samaritan by Christopher Le Brun: Also located in the Presbytery the painting was funded by the Jerusalem Trust £152750 for the 2 paintings The Prodigal Son and The Good Samaritan, £17625 for framing. In 2009 Le Brun was commissioned by the Royal Mint to design a new fifty pence piece commemorating the 250th anniversary of the founding of the Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew in London.
• ‘Praise’ by Peter Vaillant: The painting is located at the shop stairs. Peter Vaillant is a recognised and acclaimed British abstract artist, obtaining notoriety, through international exhibitions. Reviewed as having an intrepid, powerful, and vibrant modernism, distinguishable to his peers.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

George Harrison - Give Me Love (Give Me Peace On Earth).