Continuing a wonderful evening at Durham Cathedral, it was getting a bit dark to photograph Cuthbert’s Shrine. The Chapel of the Nine Altars, the area at the very east end of the Cathedral, was built between 1242 and 1280 to accommodate many pilgrims. The Nave is Norman, this end is Early English, and bears close resemblance to Salisbury Cathedral – even had the same Bishop, Bishop le Poore. I am confused as to which altar is which.
This one is the altar to Margaret of Scotland (1045-1093). The hangings were produced by the Cathedral Broderers in 2005 – they have their own website. The painting is by Paula Rego and shows the saint towards the end of her life with her son David, future King of Scotland. I wonder if Margaret would be impressed with the way she is portrayed – not the most flattering of portraits!
There is also some sculpture by Fenwick Lowson. His pieta, the statue of Mary looking down at the body of her son, is quite special. I am not going to write anything about it, but strongly encourage you to click here to read his daughter’s thoughts on her father’s work.
