...for the launch of the Art and Reconcilation project which aims to create a memorial in Chelsea to the Medieval shrines destroyed in the 16th century. This will take the form of a beautiful memorial depicting Mary holding the Christ-child, standing between broken arches, while on either side there are scenes of destruction. The sculptor is Paul Day, whose magnificent memorial to the heroes of the Battle of Britain stands on the Embankment.
The burning of some of England's most beautiful statues of Mary took place at Chelsea in 1538, in the presence of Thomas Cromwell. The planned memorial will emphasise reconciliation and promote the message that acts of deliberate destruction of such holy things cannot be right...today's launch brought together a very large and supportive gathering, and this is a project which is going to be of real value and significance. Want to help? Contact the website link I've given...
I had never been in the London Charterhouse before. It's magnificent. Feels like an Oxford or Cambridge college. We were in a large hall upstairs (drinks, lovely vol-au-vents, tiny tasty sandwiches, crisp white tablecloths)....downstairs there is much evidence of past Medieval glories...a newish chapel (18th cent? much panelling, Royal coat of arms, vaguely Inigo Jones feel) created out of much older buildings - it was all, of course, the home of London's magnificent Carthusians who died as heroes under the vicious Henry VIII...
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3 comments:
Great news! It seems the final plans for the monument have changed somewhat from the original rendering, but the basic concept is still there.
Unfortunately, the Walsingham aspect and medieval iconography seem to have been de-emphasized in favor of
"simplifying the overall form of the sculpture thus emphasising the universal nature of its theme through the use of a recognisable contemporary setting."
My own opinion is that the changes to the artwork deprive the memorial of its historical context and make it more of a multi-cultural statement on religious persecution in general. The Art and Reconciliation brochure concedes as much:
"It is this design that ART proposes to reproduce in twelve countries where similar persecution has taken place."
I personally think it unfortunate that they didn't stick with the original plans, and that the memorial won't even be unique to either England or to the English Reformation.
Nevertheless, it's still a beautiful monument, and the mere fact that this memorial is getting done is itself a near miracle and quite wonderful news.
One of the statues survived in all places in Nettuno, Italy. In the same shrine where Maria Goretti is buried is the shrine of Our Lady of Grace. The statue is from Ipswich, England. It was rescued during the Reformation and sent to Italy. It isn't far from Rome and is a very nice shrine by the beach.
Fr. J
By the way, the final design for the memorial can be seen here.
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