Creation of the Fish

Opaque glass mosaic, designed by William Blake Richmond, executed by Messrs Powell of Whitefriars, dated "A.D. 1892"



This is one of the earliest mosaics to be created by William Blake Richmond, Messrs Powell and their team, the mosaic shows a naturalism and a wide range of colours that is absent from the other two saucer domes celebrating the Creation after Genesis. It is dated “A.D. 1892” in a small cartouche, which can be found underneath the feet of a crane. The later saucer domes use fewer and bolder colours.



Brief description: the overall composition is symmetrical with eight segments marked by trees in fruit or flower; each segment featuring a different species each depicted naturalistically, at the centre the golden disk of the sun with rays and inscribed ET VOLATILE SVB FIRMAMENTO (‘and let birds fly across the expanse of the sky’) surrounded by a circle of singing birds, which in turn is surrounded a circle of birds of prey; the birds and plants depicted include (clockwise starting from apse): olive tree, turkeys between lilies, vine, peacocks with open wheels, lemon tree, stork, peacocks with closed tail, oak tree, cranes, peach tree, swans, orange trees, geese and again turkeys between lilies



Related quotes:

Genesis 20-23: “And God said, “Let the waters bring forth swarms of living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth across the firmament of the heavens.” So God created the great sea monsters and every living creature that moves, with which the waters swarm, according to their kinds, and every winged bird according to its kind. And God saw it was good. And God blessed them, saying, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the waters in the seas, and let birds multiply on the earth.” And there was evening and there was morning, a fifth day.” (NRSV)

Browne 1896, p. 11: “Above the cornice, all is finished on both sides. It is better to mention first the saucer-dome in the roof of the eastern bay, for it was the second piece of work done, and the chronological order is important. It represents the creation of the birds. […] Round is a ring of small birds; then a larger circle of golden Eagles with outstretched wings, the tips of their wings almost touching. Then, still further from the centre, come the beginnings of clouds and the tops of mountains and trees; and finally, near and at the border, the ground with water here and there. The beauty of the birds collected at this part of the dome is very great. […] One of the finest peacocks may be seen a little to the east of south. The fruit and flowers of the eight trees which divide the field into sections, and the magnificent lilies towards the east, are very striking. In a modest little square on the circumference, at the south-west, is the date “A.D. 1892”. The four shields in the boldly sculptured wreath of stone-work contain the arms of England Scotland Ireland and the three combined.”



Literature and references: Brown 1896, p. 11; Zech 2015, pp. 32-33 ill.