[Leica] PESO: Saints a joker and a bear

[pdzwig at summaventures.com (Peter Dzwig)]

All,

the other day I took myself to see the historic cathedral church of St. 
Mary the Virgin. The following are some of the shots that I took.

This is the view from the north transept looking toward the organ and 
the south aisle. It gives a sense of the scale of the place.

http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/PeterDzwig/Pictures/Hereford_Cathedral/DSCF2679.JPG.html

as does this of the sheer scale of the (now much-restored) Norman pillars:

http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/PeterDzwig/PicturesHereford_Cathedral/DSCF2682.JPG.html

The bishop's seat ("cathedra") has beuatiful carvings. These appear to 
be 19th century restorations of older ones.

The two together:

http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/PeterDzwig/PicturesHereford_Cathedral/DSCF2690.JPG.html

I have had discussions with my art historian brother about the 
iconography and we think that this is The Virgin Mary as a pregnant 
mother (the scroll reads "Behold the lion of the tribe of Judah"):

http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/PeterDzwig/PicturesHereford_Cathedral/DSCF2691.JPG.html

and the second The Virgin as Queen of Heaven:

http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/PeterDzwig/PicturesHereford_Cathedral/DSCF2692.JPG.html

they really are gorgeous carvings.

The cathedral also houses a number of carved misericords (seats on which 
monks sat,  which flipped up when the stood). They traditionally have 
carvigs on the arm rests and underneath






Thanks for looking and as ever your C&Cs are much appreciated.

Peter
-- 

Dr. Peter Dzwig