Reconciliation

Coventry Cathedral Ruins

Sculpture by Josefina de Vasconcellos

placed in Coventry Cathedral ruins in

1995, 50 years after the end of WWII

For a short period of time this sculpture

was moved to the new cathedral for safekeeping

while the floor of the old cathedral was being restored.

The wording reads:

Reconciliation

In 1995, 50 years after the end of the Second World War 

this sculpture by Josefina de Vasconcellos has been 

given by Richard Branson as a token of reconciliation. 

An identical sculpture has been placed on behalf

of the people of Coventry in the Peace Garden, Hiroshima, Japan.

Both sculptures remind us that, in the face of destructive forces,

human dignity and love will triumph over disaster 

and bring nations together in respect and peace.

* * * * * *

Note: These photographs were taken on different days, 

hence, the variety in weather conditions.

**

For more information about this sculpture, 

originally named 'Reunion', 

please follow the link HERE.

 * * * *

PS.  Happy Valentine's Day :)

Belgrade Theatre Relief Panel

Belgrade Theatre

Exterior Wall - facing Corporation Street

This large relief panel was created and designed 

in 1958 by James C Brown, sculpture.

Below is a full description I found in records of the

Public Monuments & Sculptures Association's

website which I quote.... 

'Sculptured concrete panel over the main entrance to the Belgrade Theatre symbolising the city of Belgrade and is based on a 1684 engraving by Giacomo de Rossi.  The relief shows a fortress on a hill above a walled city, surrounded by the river Danube. The city arms and its name in Cyrillic script on a banner are at the top of the relief. The dark colour of the textured panel provides a visual interruption form the smoothness of the surrounding windows. The relief shows a fortress on a hill above a walled city, which is surrounded by a river. At the top left, the city's coat of arms appear and at top right, its name is shown on a banner in Cyrillic script. The city is presumably Belgrade, given the name of the theatre. 

James Brown was asked by the city architect to design and make the relief. The Yugoslav Embassy was consulted about the project, and they supplied the Giacomo de Rossi engraving upon which Brown based his design. Brown first made the relief in brick clay and then had it cast in cement fondu with Penmaenware granite chippings for aggregate. 

The theatre was named after the Yugoslav city as a gesture of friendship between the two cities and in recognition of a gift of timber to furnish the interior of the building.'

Apologies for a large amount of text, but

I thought it best to quote the full description.

The Belgrade Theatre is a live performance theatre, seating 858 people.

The Belgrade was the first civic theatre to be built after WWII in Britain.

Participating in Monday Mural

St Michael and the Devil

Coventry Cathedral

Priory Street

Bronze Statues Sculpted by Sir Jacob Epstein

Mounted in 1960 on the main wall near the New Cathedral entrance.

Coventry Cathedral was rebuilt next to the Old Cathedral Ruins 

after the devastation of the Blitz in 1940.

The sculpture depicts Archangel Michael standing over

the Devil in triumph 

from the story of the angel rebellion in the

Book of Revelations.

These photographs were taken today

using my iPhone.

Below is an old 2014 image which
shows the Old and New Cathedrals
so you can see the ruins (left) and new Cathedral (right).