Creation of the Beasts

Opaque glass mosaic, designed by William Blake Richmond, executed by Messrs Powell of Whitefriars, dated

"A.D. 1895"

This mosaic does not depict the creation in action: like the other two saucer-domes in the quire which depict the Creation of the Fish and Birds, it is a celebration of life, in this case mammals. The animals can be identified, at least in lay terms, and are at times arranged in rather intriguing combinations of animals native to different continents: a tiger is shown above a red squirrel, and a hippopotamus above a rabbit. Even though the identification is at times only tentatively possible, all animals on this mosaic and The Creation of Birds are familiar creatures, and without exception they would have been found in one part or another of the British Empire at the time.

Brief description: the overall composition symmetrical with respect to its centres with eight segments marked by palm trees, the centre the golden disk of the sun with rays and inscribed “PRODVCAT TERRAM ANIMAM VIVENTEM ”, surrounded by a ring of birds which in turn is surrounded by a ring of birds of prey and a ring of cloud hovering between the palm trees; each tree with a bird and flanked by a pair of animals in near symmetrical posture, the segments populated with a larger mammals at the centre and a smaller creature close to the edge of the dome. Most animals can be tentatively identified (clockwise starting from crossing): tree with a turkey and a fox on either side; a pair of lions above a monkey; a tree with an owl and a kangaroo on either side; three African elephants above a monkey (poss. Baboon); a tree with poss. a turkey and a deer or deer antelope on either side; a hippopotamus above a rabbit; a tree with a cockatoo and a leopard on either side; two rhinoceros above a cat (poss. a wild cat); a tree with an owl with open wings and a lama on either side; two dromedaries above a monkey; a tree with a bird of prey and deer antelope or deer on either side; a stag above a cat, possibly a lynx; a tree with an eagle and an ibex on either side; a bull above a rabbit; a tree with an owl and a ram on either side; a tiger above a red squirrel.

Related quotes:

Genesis 1:24: “Dixit quoque Deus: Producat terra animam viventem in genere suo, jumenta, et reptilia, et bestias terræ secundum species suas. Factumque est ita. Et fecit Deus bestias terræ juxta species suas, et jumenta, et omne reptile terræ in genere suo. Et vidit Deus quod esset bonum.” (Vulgate); “And God said, “Let the earth bring forth living the creatures according to their kinds: cattle and creeping things and beasts of the earth according to their kinds.” And it was so. And God made the beasts of the earth according to their kinds, and everything that creeps upon the ground according to its kind. And God saw that it was good.” (NRSV)

Browne 1896, p. 12: “The westernmost of the three saucer-domes represents the creation of the beasts. The field is divided into eight sections by eight trees of the palm type, each affording resting places for gaily plumaged birds. The inscription in the centre is producat terra animam viventem, ‘let the earth bring forth the living creature’ (Genesis i.24). The animals represented in the several sections, beginning at the east and passing round are lions and foxes, hippopotamus and elephant, deer, leopards and rhinoceros, sheep, deer goats and bulls; lower on the ground are monkeys, rabbits, squirrels, &c. The shields on the sculptured wreath round the saucer-dome carry the arms of four of the principal contributors among the City Companies towards the decoration, the Fishmongers (east), the Merchant Taylors (north), the Goldsmiths (west), and the Mercers (south).”

Related work elsewhere: The Creation, mosaic cycle, 12th century, Palatine Chapel, Palermo, Italy; The Creation, mosaic cycle, 13th century, Saint Mark’s Basilica, Venice, Italy;

Literature and references: Browne 1896, p. 12; Zech 2015, pp. 22-23, pp. 32-35 ill.