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SRW | all galleries >> Southern/Middle England >> Warwickshire >> Coventry Cathedral > St Michael and the Devil
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25 February 2013 SRW

St Michael and the Devil

Coventry Cathedral, Warwickshire view map

The cathedral is dedicated to St Michael;
and this stunning sculpture was created by
Sir Jacob Epstein: who, sadly, died in 1959, and
therefore didn't live to see his masterpiece mounted
on the cathedral wall a year later.

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comment
Chris Morton26-Feb-2013 18:05
he may be in chains on the sculpture, and Revelations may be read to imply his defeat (eventually), I think I can hear him laughing behind every advertising slogan around and the laugh resembles the fall of small change on to the counter and slide of credit card into a slot
SRW25-Feb-2013 23:13
I wanted an image that -- without sounding too poncy -- juxtaposed the heavenly (St Michael) with the earthly (the devil); the "sacred and the profane", I suppose; and, also, didn't want to take the standard 'straight on' shot, that I remember taking with an Instamatic, forty or so years ago...! Additionally, the cathedral is very much part of its urban environment (because of the tragic bombing and rebuilding of Coventry...) -- and it feels only right to try and capture that.... [This is definitely a case where the "picture" says the "thousand words" much better than I can...!]
larose forest photos25-Feb-2013 22:14
this sculpture has a strong impact - have to agree with don's comment.
Don Mottershead25-Feb-2013 21:29
I really like your decision to show this sculpture against its urban environment. There is the transitory world of buses and pedestrians and the more enduring world of symbols. ~V~