Traquair murals in Bellevue Reformed Baptist Church

Category

Library Item

Item no

4348

Title

Traquair murals in Bellevue Reformed Baptist Church (formerly Catholic Apostolic), East London Street

Description

A detail of a Phoebe Traquair mural in the Bellevue Reformed Baptist Church. A short-haired angelic figure holds an illustrated bible and points at the phrase "I am the Resurrection and the Life". The figure is dressed in robes of orange and blue and its halo is of a metallic silver.

Artist / maker

Unknown

Date

1993

Size

25.3 x 17.4 cm

Type

Photograph

Location

Edinburgh and Scottish Collection

Item is dated 3rd August 1993

Phoebe Anna Traquair's best known work is the former Catholic Apostolic Church in Broughton Street (now known as Manfield Traquair). This was a huge undertaking and she worked on the project in three phases - the west wall of the chancel arch (1893-5), the two chancel aisles (1895-1897), and the nave and west wall (1898-1901). Given the scale and grandeur of the murals, the church has become known as "Edinburgh's Sistine Chapel". The decoration of the chapel fitted in with the Arts and Crafts belief in making art accessible to the masses; no longer was it merely to be hung on the walls of the rich. Although strongly religious in theme, the murals have Arts and Crafts motifs running through them in the depiction of nature and the richness of the colours used. This image was taken in 1993 when the church was home to Bellevue Reformed Baptist Church. More recently the building has been taken over by the Mansfield Traquair Trust, who are dedicated to conserving the building and it's interior.

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Related subjects

Furnishings > Ornamentation > Murals

Places > Edinburgh areas > Broughton

Places > Scotland > Edinburgh

Religion > Religious facilities > Baptist Churches

Religion > Religious facilities > Catholic churches

Religion > Religious gods and goddesses > Angels

Sport and leisure > Activities > Reading and books