Richard

Anonymous

Wednesday, 3. September 2008, 02:57:16

antiquity, sculpture, church, Dennington, St Mary the Virgin, photography, vacation, Suffolk, travel, England

Another photo visit to the church of St. Mary the Virgin in Dennington.

Here's an interior view, showing the beautiful woodwork, much of it 600 or 700 years old and still in immaculate condition. But what caught my eye when I was framing that shot was a captivating little detail far off the ground.

Looking up to the stone supports that form the base for the wooden arches that hold up the roof, I saw that each had been fashioned into the shape of a head. (As shown by the yellow arrow in my photograph).

A close up revealed a surprisingly detailed view of some unidentified medieval person. Was it someone of significance, or perhaps a more ordinary figure? In this case, perhaps the beautiful wife of the stone mason. Were these the ordinary folk, high up and overlooking the far grander monuments to the wealthy and renowned of the village.

I liked to think so. These faces were open and friendly, much as I might like myself to be remembered in future centuries.

Verse 122The lady doth protest too much, methinks

Comments

noah counte # 3. September 2008, 03:25

Churches/cathedreals make stuning subjects. I wish I had been a more devoted photographer when i was making my European cathedral tour.

That's a lovely shot.

Stardancer # 3. September 2008, 05:53

Beautiful, Richard.

ricewood # 3. September 2008, 07:04

Stuff like that makes you think, doesn't it?

I like details like that. Much the same way as I like looking at painted miniature portraits from the 16th century. It's done so cleverly that I can believe that I look an actual person in the eyes across centuries.

musickna # 3. September 2008, 12:14

Thanks, guys.

Yes, there is always so much to see that it is so easy to overlook.

In fact, it was not until I looked again at the photograph this morning that I realised that the woman's face was outlined with a

. A beautiful Valentine from perhaps Chaucer's day.

edwardpiercy # 3. September 2008, 17:58

Perhaps it was some subscription thing in which the builder/architect recieved money from wealthy local businessmen to put up their likenesses in the church. It would offset the cost a bit. And I think that Mary was also known as the figure whom people went for the intercession of their sins -- so putting up the faces perhaps had something to do with that. All of this is speculation. And not very romantic.

I would write the church and ask them.

And BTW, nice arrow! I have no idea how to do those.