Medieval wonder found in Church

[emad]

By Dalya Alberge, Arts Correspondent

Spectacular wall paintings dating from the 14th century have been discovered at a 12th-century church in Suffolk.

A saint and a king being uncrowned and toppled by a figure of Fate had been hidden by limewash since they were covered during the Reformation.

Builders at St Andrew’s Church in the hamlet of Ilketshall St Andrew were redecorating when they scraped a wall in the nave and noticed a section of the underlying wall painting.

A specialist conservator, Tobit Curteis said it was a very significant find. The saint, in a blue robe, is set against a Gothic arcade. Underneath is the figure of a devil. Mr Curteis said: “I’ve never seen anything like it. It’s almost Bosch-like.”

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/newspaper/0,,172-1728602,00.html

[jonkronz2003]

1. First protrait?

It is believed by scholars that the picture of the devil is the first recorded image of George W Bush ever found.....

[henslee]

2. Stories like this are the best. Like the ancient sculpture found in the

Italian sewer. Or the declaration found in the back of the picture frame. They just let you know that the world is full of mystery and suprises.

[emad]

3. And not forgetting those Papal seals in the ancient teutonic

lavatory.....

[henslee]

9. do not know that one.

[emad]

10. Posted it in DU lounge last month....very similar story to the marble

head of Constantine down the Italian pan

[jeffreyi]

4. Neato!

Sounds like a proto-Tarot card. No pictures yet?

[emad]

15. BBC SouthEast news is sending its team there later today so

maybe pics.

Will post if anything happens.

[SemperEadem]

5. King John Plantagenet, perhaps?

[htuttle]

6. That imagery reminds me of a Tarot card

The traditional image of the Death card is that of Death, either on a horse or standing with a scythe, trodding over a deposed King and usually a Bishop.





I'd be interested to know more about the history of that church. It's a curious, fairly revolutionary, image to find painted on the wall.

[Swamp Rat]

7. Damn! Curteis says it's Bosch-like and they show NO photos???

Scheiß! :(

[knitter4democracy]

8. I know!

That's what I want to see. It sounds really interesting.

[KittyWampus]

11. sounds more like Wheel of Fortune:

Though many older tarot decks showed King fallig from top, lossing crown.

also the Tower:

[Literate Tar Heel]

12. that's nothing

it would have truly been a wonder if wall paintings from the 12th century had been discovered at a 14th-century church

[zbdent]

13. Strom Thurmond's confirmation records?

[emad]

14. Website link:

including links to pics of "Mary and Jesus flank God the Father, above the Doom"....


SNIP:
"The interior of the church was in absolutely deplorable shape. The parishoners here obviously do not take the same pride in their church as the folks at Ringsfield. They have two or three broken down organs, one beng a small pipe organ possible from the turn of the century. The excrement of some animal was on the keyboard the first time we visited, and had not been cleaned off when we visited two years later! And this is a not a redundant church!

This last time we were there we gained access to St. Andrew by attending a blessing of the animals service on a Saturday morning. I thought that this would be something that the parish would use as an outreach to the local community, particularly the children. What a wonderful idea! Well, no such thing. A few older folks showed up with their pooches, one young family with a couple of cats and that was it. Rather disappointing, and what a great opportunity missed to have the church make itself available to the community.

Oh well. As you so often comment on your site, the Church of England seems to have a death wish, and wants to preside at its own funeral I guess. Pity. I simply cannot understand how the "locals" do not seem to care about preserving these absolutely valuable historical sites and buildings.

Strong words. I wonder what difference recent events here might make. In December 2001, 14th century wall paintings, bearing a similarity to those at nearby North Cove, were uncovered by builders."

SEE:

http://www.suffolkchurches.co.uk/ilkandrew.html

[alfredo]

16. I believe this is it

[GreenPartyVoter]

17. How cool!