David Gentleman: Ely Cathedral Octagon Latern Tower

Artist: David Gentleman
1930 -
Nationality: British
Artwork Year: 1989
Image Size: 14.25 by 12.75 inches
Overall Size: 17.25 by 14.25 inches
Medium: Water Color on Water Color Paper

Of all the glories of Ely Cathedral, none is so prominent as its soaring Octagon. After the collapse of the church's original tower, this masterpiece was built in 1322-42 -- an airy Gothic hymn of stone and wood ascending upward from Ely Cathedral's solid Romanesque base. Even to the modern visitor, accustomed to towering city skyscrapers, the Octagon is an impressive sight. To fourteenth century minds, it must have seemed a dizzying embodiment of the power and height of the heavens themselves, and a crystallization of their own human hopes for a holier and more Godlike spirit. Four hundred tons of hand-finished wood and lead went into the Octagon's Lantern Tower. Each comer post was hewn from a single oak, allowing the building to reach out into space supported by massive timbers resting on eight huge pillars of Barnack stone. Dominating the surrounding landscape of the Fens, the Ely Octagon tells us that English Gothic carpenters were as enterprising as their stonemason colleagues. In Britain, timber was always readily available, and there are several instances in which the English carpenter seems to have been eager to accept constructional tasks beyond the scope of masonry. The Ely Octagon is one of these instances -- a distinguished testament to the architectural brilliance of its period, and to the human hands, driven by faith, that made such constructions possible.

This painting originally appeared on the Fleetwood® First Day Cover for the 20p+1p Great Britain WCS Octagon Tower stamp issue of November 14, 1989.

Artwork Copyright © 1989 Unicover Corporation. All Rights Reserved under United States and international copyright laws. You may not reproduce, distribute, transmit, or otherwise exploit the Artwork in any way. Images of the Artwork may be watermarked and/or digitally watermarked. Any sale of the physical original does not include or convey the Copyright or any right comprised in the copyright.

Our Stock Number (SKU): XB12206

US$ Price: $1,550.00

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