An exhibition that brought together examples of modern painting and sculpture dealing with Christain themes. Images of Christ marked the centenary of the parish church of St Matthew, Northampton, and paid tribute to Walter Hussey (1909-1985), who was vicar os the parish from 1937 to 1955. During the period, Hussey commissioned two major works for the church; Madonna and Child(1943-44) by Henry Moore (known universally as The Northampton Madonna. and Crucifixion (1946) by Graham Sutherland. Hussey continued to be an active patron of the arts, when he became Dean at Chichester Cathedral he again commissioned Sutherland, alongside John Piper, Cecil Collins and Marc Chagall.

The exhibition was curated by James Huntington-Whitely. A catalogue, with essays by Frances Spalding, George Pattison, Rowan Williams and Tom Devonshire-Jones, and entries on the work, was published by St Matthew’s (Northampton) Centenary Art Committee. No ISBN number.

Collection Artist(s)

Glossary

  • Painting

    Work of art made with paint on a surface. Often the surface, also called a support, is a tightly stretched piece of canvas, paper or a wooden panel. Painting involves a wide range of techniques and materials, along with the artist's intellectual concerns effecting the content of a work.

  • Sculpture

    A three-dimensional work of art. Such works may be carved, modelled, constructed, or cast. Sculptures can also be described as assemblage, in the round, relief, and made in a huge variety of media. Contemporary practice also includes live elements, as in Gilbert & George 'Living Sculpture' as well as broadcast work, radio or sound sculpture.