ROMSEY ABBEY, Church Lane, ROMSEY, Hampshire. SO51 8EP
As his national touring exhibition to cathedrals also travelled to Romsey Abbey in autumn 2016, Chris Gollon was taken both by the Abbey and the history of its famous abbess, St Ethelflaeda. He painted–as a site-specific work–for two stone recesses–this dramatic diptych of St Ethelflaeda, Abbess of Romsey at the time of the first millennium. Gollon’s diptych looks at the legend recounted of St Ethelflaeda, the moment her candle blows out and she is able to continue reading the Bible only by the Divine light emanating from her hand. The diptych subtly gives the impression of St Ethelflaeda re-entering the Abbey, imbued with light. It has now been purchased by Romsey Abbey, where it hangs permanently for the public and congregation to enjoy. A full-colour catalogue fine art catalogue featuring the diptych and Chris Gollon’s studies for the final work, along with texts by leading writers including Sara Maitland, is available from the Abbey shop, or it may be purchased here: St Ethelflaeda. Chris Gollon painted 5 studies for the final work, which are with IAP Fine Art.
“I’ve really come to love Chris Gollon’s work and the expressive ways that he represents the human form with exaggeration creating a greater realism”, The Very Revd Catherine Ogle, Dean of Winchester.
Open Mon – Sat 07.30am – 6pm, Sun 11-6pm. Free entry.