Tuesday 10 April 2012

A hidden gem


My last post was about some of the talented artists creating waves today however artwork in Brighton is not all contemporary, as you can also find some stunning pieces by old masters and not just in the art galleries...

Last week a couple of us were invited to visit St Michael & All Angels Church in the Montpelier area of the city. Before I talk about the church itself I have to say that Montpelier & Clifton is a beautiful area of the city, even though it is only a few streets away from the main shopping area it has a tranquil atmosphere. Plus being uphill you do get some fab views across the city and down to the seafront. To find out more why not have a look at the video on our new interactive map (shameless plug!)

Anyway back to the church... It is appropriate that the church has two names as it is actually two churches in one as the original church was not big enough.

But how does this relate to art? Well inside the church are some stunning stained glass windows by pre-Raphaelite artists Edward Burne-Jones and William Morris as well as some by Ford Madox Brown and Dante Gabriel Rossetti.


And it's not just the windows, make sure you check the columns as carved into each pillar are figures ranging from musical notes to miniature Indian pavilions. Each carving tells a story as when the church was built a lot of the parishioners would not have been able to read.

So I would definitely recommend a trip up to Clifton Hill for any art lovers.

Charlotte

No comments: