“ Polwarth Church in the Sunset Glow”

Size : 600 x 450mm

「夕映えのポールワース教会」　

アルミニューム合金パネルに油彩　Size; 12号

「夕映えのポールワース教会」は、エディンバラの運河沿いの風景画です。夕日の柔らかい赤い光が、地面スレスレに差し込んで、ポールワース教会の赤みがかった石造りの外壁に映え、建物とその周囲も温かい輝きに包まれています。きっと教会のステンドグラスも美しく輝いているはずです。教会の姿がカナルの水面に反射し、静かで美しい夕暮れの情景がさらに強調されています。遠近法により、手前にある小道や並んだボートが奥行きを感じさせ、視線を自然に教会へと導きます。カナルの岸辺を歩く人々のシルエットが、日常と歴史が共存する場所の静けさを表現しています。全体に暖かい色調が広がり、エディンバラの歴史的な美しさと穏やかな雰囲気が融合した作品です。

このポールワース教会の建物は、ゴシック・リヴァイヴァル様式（Gothic Revival style）です。この様式は、ゴシック建築の特徴を復興させた19世紀の建築運動で、尖塔、アーチ状の窓、垂直の装飾が特徴です。特に、高い尖塔や精巧な窓のデザイン、石造りの重厚な外壁にはガーゴイルという雨どいも備えられ、典型的なゴシック様式の要素が取り入れられています。このような教会建築は、厳粛さと壮麗さを感じさせ、宗教的な荘厳さを強調しています。

“ Polwarth Church in the Sunset Glow”

“ Polwarth Church in the Sunset Glow” is a landscape painting of the canal in Edinburgh. The soft red light of the setting sun shines low across the ground, illuminating the reddish stone walls of Polwarth Church and enveloping the building and its surroundings in a warm glow. One can imagine the church’s stained glass also shining beautifully. The reflection of the church in the canal’s water further enhances the serene and beautiful twilight scene. Through the use of perspective, the pathway and boats in the foreground create a sense of depth, naturally guiding the viewer’s gaze towards the church. The silhouettes of people walking along the canal express the quiet coexistence of everyday life and history in this place. The overall warm tones throughout the painting convey the harmonious blend of Edinburgh’s historical beauty and tranquil atmosphere.

The Polwarth Church building is designed in the Gothic Revival style. This style is a 19th-century architectural movement that revived the characteristics of Gothic architecture, featuring spires, arched windows, and vertical ornamentation. Notably, the tall spire, intricate window designs, and heavy stone walls are equipped with gargoyles as rain spouts, incorporating typical elements of Gothic style. Such church architecture conveys a sense of solemnity and grandeur, emphasizing religious majesty.

The original Gothic style spread primarily through Germany and Northern Europe during the Middle Ages, before the Renaissance, and was characterized by the extensive use of stained glass. In Gothic-style churches, the reduced wall space decreased the demand for wall paintings, leading instead to the development of independent panel paintings by artists like Jan van Eyck, which is an interesting aspect of this period.

In the 19th century, a movement emerged, primarily in Britain, that sought to return to the Middle Ages rather than follow Renaissance classicism, resulting in the Gothic Revival. Westminster Palace in London, home to Big Ben, is a prime example of this style. Additionally, the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood in Britain also aimed to return to the period before the Renaissance, with John Millais, known for his painting Ophelia, being one of its prominent artists.

Masayuki Hara