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| Schloss Wernigerode seen from the main entrance high above the town. |
Two years ago to-day, on 6th September,
2009, my Great Great Grandson and his wife arrived in Hannover Germany,
travelling by train from Wernigerode, trying to expand knowledge of his German
ancestry. It was here in Hannover that I met my Son-in-Law Conrad Beckmann –
who married my poor daughter Ernestine who was to die after a very long illness
and great suffering from an internal growth.
Both Conrad Beckmann and I worked on
commissions from Count Otto Von Stolberg to enhance Schloss Wernigerode. For my
part, I carved the Altar and Pulpit in the Chapel in marble and friezes around
the inner courtyard at first and second floor levels, in wood. The commission
was, therefore, a varied one, and of great interest, and I believe most folk find
the works quite pleasing, as did the Count. My G.G. Grandson found it quite
interesting that the altar is designed after a medieval French style, and, if
it were not for the lack of an operating Tabernacle and the absence of the
Corpus (or figure of Christ) on the Cross, and the disproportionate size of the
Pulpit in relation to the Altar, says it would perfectly conform with Catholic
practice.
The Altar
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| The Altar almost Catholic but.... |
The Altar is modest in size, but sound in
proportion to the Chapel as a whole, save for the Christless cross which is somewhat
over – large. The whole composition is rather pleasing particularly at floor
level, as opposed to gallery level.
The Pulpit
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| The Super-sized Pulpit |
The Pulpit is well- proportioned in itself
and, carved in its upper section are four deep relief panels depicting : King
David, Saint John, Mosesand Christin Majesty receiving a symbolic Church
at the hands of a child. The Pulpit is enormous in contrast to the Altar, and
to the Chapel as a whole, reflecting a very Protestant emphasis on preaching,
and without regard for the sacrifice of the Mass, or in this case, aesthetic effect.
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The Pulpit overwhelms the Altar and the Chapel in typical Protestant fashion, struggling to emphasise the Word at the expense of the Sacrifice (had the Lutherans had valid Orders - which they do not.
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| CHRIST IN MAJESTY |
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| SAINT JOHN |
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| MOSES |
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| KING DAVID |
WOOD CARVED FRIEZES IN THE INNER COURTYARD
The Friezes I carved at the first and second floor levels of the inner courtyard are, in parts highly decorative and interspersed at regular intervals with profile heads of people in period costume. My GGGrandson has as yet been unable to find out their identities. Here are some photographs which illustrate my work in this part of the commission:
It was there, in Wernigerode that my
G.G.Grandson first learnt of my Christian name, and of my art, whilst at the
same time, with the delightful Frau Eva Hasert drawing these things to his attention, he was also shown my signed photo portrait. I believe he would say he
was “overwhelmed” at such a huge and detailed leap in knowledge of his
ancestry - so much so that his wife Robyn had to underline the fact that they had "discovered" his Great Great Great Grandfather!
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| My GGGrandson |
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| My GGGrandson's lovely wife Robyn who took the better ones of these photos with her Lumix Camera |
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| Your humble servant and artist for to-day. |
It was a very happy day in a very beautiful place. It is nice to get to know one's descendants.
