The Last Supper

On a brief visit to Leominster Priory we were surprised to come upon this sculpture of "The Last Supper". It is the work of the English sculptor, Peter Barnes, was completed in 2019, and is currently touring cathedrals and larger churches. The piece is a mosaic with a difference being constructed of a clay-like base material inset with black and white computer keyboard keys.

These form the shape, features and clothing of the figures. They also combine to make traditional patterns and biblical quotations that are worked into the surface. The artist says he lost count of the number of keyboards he needed, but estimates that it has more than 50,000 keys.

photo © T. Boughen     Camera: Lumix FZ1000 2

Leominster capitals

The west doorway of Leominster Priory (it is also also the Parish Church of St Peter and St Paul) has capitals that are carved in the manner of the Herefordshire School of stone carving (see Eardisley font). Consequently they must have been carved c1140-1150. My photograph shows details of the south capitals that feature affronted birds, bending men in "beehive" hats cutting leaves, and serpents, as well as ropework, bead and other typical Norman decoration. The detail has lasted remarkably well considering it has been subject to nine hundred years of English weather.

The doorway itself has three orders of shafts,  a hoodmould with chevron ornament, more chevron on the second order, and remarkably, arches that are slightly pointed rather than the usual semicircles of this period.

photo © T. Boughen     Camera: Lumix FZ1000 2