Sealing the Tomb

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Sealing the Tomb
ArtistWilliam Hogarth
Year1755
Typetriptych
MediumOil on canvas
SubjectSealing the Tomb
Dimensions
  • 22 feet (6.7 m) by 19 feet (5.8 m) (centre)
  • 13 feet 10 inches (4.22 m) by 12 feet (3.7 m) (sides)
Location
St Nicholas
, Bristol

Sealing the Tomb is a great

Church of St Nicholas
. When the museum closed it was converted to offices; however the triptych remains in the building. It is on display to the public again after the church was re-consecrated in 2018.

Description

The three scenes depicted are the Ascension featuring Mary Magdalene,[1] on a central canvas which is 22 feet (6.7 m) by 19 feet (5.8 m). It is flanked by The Sealing of the Sepulchre and the Three Marys at the Tomb each of which is 13 feet 10 inches (4.22 m) by 12 feet (3.7 m). They are mounted in gilded frames.[2]

History

The painting was commissioned from William Hogarth in 1755 to fill the east end of the chancel of St Mary Redcliffe. It was Hogarth's only commission from the Church of England;[3][4] he did not follow any faith.[5] The churchwardens paid him £525 for his painting. Thomas Paty made the frames.[2] The total cost was £7671 6s 4d.[6][7]

The three paintings were too wide for the church and the side panels were placed at an angle to the central one. During the

Art Collections Fund.[10][11]

The painting is now displayed in

St Nicholas, Bristol.[12] The church was damaged by incendiary bombs during World War II and was considered for demolition in the 1950s. The building was partially restored and the roof replaced by 1964 when it was leased to The Corporation of Bristol as a museum of church artefacts and local history. It opened in 1973 and Hogarth's triptych was installed at the eastern end. The museum closed in 1991; however the painting remained within the offices of the Bristol & Region Archaeological Services.[13][14] When the church was re-consecrated in 2018, the three paintings were put on display to the public again.[15]

See also

References

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  7. ^ Evans, John (1824). A Chronological Outline of the History of Bristol, and the Stranger's Guide Through Its Streets and Neighbourhood. John Evans. p. 275.
  8. ^ "Hogarth Pictures". Nottingham Evening Post. 28 February 1910. p. 7. Retrieved 27 March 2015.
  9. ^ "William Hogarth's Triptych for St Mary Redcliffe, Bristol: How to deal with enormous artworks in public collections". Tate Etc. Retrieved 27 March 2015.
  10. ^ "The Altarpiece of St Mary Redcliffe, Bristol by William Hogarth". Art Fund. Retrieved 27 March 2015.
  11. ^ "Your Pictures: Bristol's 'lost' Hogarth altarpiece". BBC News. 23 June 2011. Retrieved 27 March 2015.
  12. .
  13. ^ Brooks, Richard (26 February 2012). "Behold, the art you never knew was yours". Sunday Times. Archived from the original on 2 April 2015. Retrieved 27 March 2015.
  14. ^ Corcos, Nick. "St Nicholas Church". Bristol & Region Archaeological Services. Retrieved 27 March 2015.
  15. ^ "St Nicholas: a 'resourcing church' for Bristol". Diocese of Bristol. Retrieved 31 August 2018.