22. Pictures
The church has some pictures hung on the walls of the nave. None are of any significant value, but some are of interest. Most were donated to the church in the 1920’s.
The painting of the Holy Trinity dates from between 1516 and 1550 and is thought to have been painted by Pedro Machuca. He was a Spanish artist and architect who was born in Toledo around 1490, trained in Italy where he was associated with Michelangelo and Raphael, and returned to Spain in 1520. He was a prolific artist, but was also an architect and designed the Palace of Charles V in Granada. He died in 1550. Some later alterations were apparently made to it, probably by Giovanni Antonio Bazzi, otherwise know as Sodoma. It was restored at the Courtauld Institute in 1986. Rev Gillean Craig, who was then Assistant Priest, described the painting as follows. ‘Almighty God is portrayed in the three persons of Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Christ on the Cross surmounts the globe, not of the world but I think of the whole created universe – it contains both sun and moon. His outstretched arms are echoed by the wings of the dove and the Father lovingly holding the cross. They are surrounded by eight angels whose gestures invite the viewer to join them in worship and adoration. The artist has given God the Father a triangular halo, an interesting way of confirming the theology of the Trinity.’
The Guardian Angel : This is an 18th century copy of ‘The Guardian Angel’ by Murillo (1617-1682). The original is in Seville Cathedral.
Crucifixion with Virgin and St John : This was painted in the mid-16th century by a member of the Flemish School.
The Head of Christ : This is a 17th century copy of a painting by Titian (c1488-1576).
The Nativity : This is an 18th Century copy of a painting by Rubens (1577-1640). It was donated by Frederick E Fenton FRCS in October 1917.
The Annunciation : This is thought to have been painted in Rome between 1700 and 1780 and is a modello for a large altarpiece. It was hanging in the Lady Chapel before 1983, and was restored at the Courtauld Institute around that time.
‘Candlemass at St Barnabas’, painted by Camilla Newbegin in 2012
