Ornamentation
of the niche of the tabernacle at
St
Williams Church
This is the second time
I have worked together with Fr John. The first time was in 2011/12, during the
refurbishment of St James. In collaboration with my colleague, Júlio Quaresma,
we provided the crucifix over the altar, and the decorative panels for both the
chapel of the Virgin and the chapel of St James. Júlio and I work together
through the St Benedict Studio for Sacred Art, founded in 2009, and which is
based in Minas Gerais, in Brazil (www.ateliesaobento.blogspot.co.uk).
All the references for
our work are gathered from the tradition of sacred images and the documents of
the Church which refer to art. For our images, we seek inspiration from the
simplicity of the ornamentation of the catacombs in Rome; the vibrant colours
of medieval stained glass windows and also from the recent work which the
artist Claudio Pastro has been creating at the Basilica of Our Lady of
Conception, in Aparecida do Norte, in Brazil.
At St Williams, at the
back of the niche, painted in yellow, is the holy cross with five red points
(one in the centre of the cross and four at each end) which represent the
wounds of Christ. At the bottom of the cross, there are the figures of two
angels. In a way, they are a reference to the angels represented in the Arc of
the Covenant.
At the sides and on the
arch of the niche there are another seven figures of angels. The number seven
symbolizes totality and in this case it symbolizes the totality of the angels
of heaven. Amongst the angels, there are also twelve stars, a clear reference
to the twelve apostles.
There are two brass
frames around the niche, engraved with motifs of fish, bread and grapes, which
are common references to the Eucharist. At the very top of the outer frame,
there is the representation of a solar circle which, at first represents God,
but which is also a reminder of the sacramental bread itself. Finally, in the
inner arch, there is the sentence: “The true Bread from Heaven”, which is from
the gospel of John (6:32-33).
We seek always that our
work is elegant and beautiful, that it is worthy of its function together with
the Liturgy. We hope to worship God, with the intercession of Christ and his
Mother in this way.
Reading, August, 2015
Paulo Guilherme Marques