Gloria Ecclesiae Antiquae (a.k.a: Church of St. Riquier, France) by John Taylor Arms

Gloria Ecclesiae Antiquae (a.k.a: Church of St. Riquier, France) by John Taylor Arms

Gloria Ecclesiae Antiquae (a.k.a: Church of St. Riquier, France)

John Taylor Arms

Title

Gloria Ecclesiae Antiquae (a.k.a: Church of St. Riquier, France)

 
Artist
Year
1937  
Technique
etching 
Image Size
13 7/8 x 8 5/8" platemark 
Signature
pencil, lower right, in margin 
Edition Size
pencil annotated "III", a proof from the edition of 237 
Annotations
dated & titled; dedicated “To my friend John W. Winkler with deepest apppreciation John Taylor Arms 1937” also “Third State before the inscription was removed” 
Reference
Fletcher 307 
Paper
J Whatman laid 
State
III/IV; before the inscription was removed 
Publisher
artist 
Inventory ID
JW264 
Price
SOLD
Description

This impression is dedicated by Arms in the lower margin: "To my friend John Winkler, / with deepest admiration / John Taylor Arms - 1937" / " “Third State before the inscription was removed”

Roughly translating to "the Glory of the Ancient Church, this image is from Arms' 'French Church Series' #39. The first Church of St Riquier was founded about 625 and built in the 790s under the patronage of Charlamagne. Originally called Centula the abbey and the village were renamed Riquier around 8 after Angilbert "the Saint" de Ponthieu, abbé de Saint-Riquier who restored the chuch in 799 and was buried there.

In 1544 it was burned by the English and later restored through the efforts of Father Charles Aligre. Today the Saint Riquier abbey church is a unique example of the evolution of Gothic architecture, combining elements belonging to the early, classical and flamboyant Gothic architecture. The facade of the abbey dates from the 16th century and is dominated by its single, windowless, 164 foot central tower, ornately decorated by numerous statues, embedded in a dense network of arches and lines.