ceiling
Basilica Museum
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| Object Name: | ceiling |
| Artist/Maker: | Conway family, The |
| Other Artist: | Rambusch Company |
| Other Artist Role: | re-painters |
| Classification: | man-made artefact |
| Category: | structures |
| Sub-category: | site feature |
| Discipline: | architectural history art church history decorative arts material culture |
| Material: | wood plaster paint gold leaf |
| Technique: | handcrafted painted |
| Accession Number: | Noaccession13 |
| Origin-Province: | Pre-Confederation Newfoundland |
| Origin-Country: | Dominion of Newfoundland |
| Origin-Continent: | North America |
| Use-Province: | Newfoundland and Labrador Pre-Confederation Newfoundland |
| Use-Country: | Canada Dominion of Newfoundland |
| Culture: | Canada Pre-Confederation Newfoundland |
| Cultural Context: | decorative |
| Earliest Production Date: | 1903 |
| Latest Production Date: | 1955 |
| Period: | early and mid 20th century |
| Description: | At the intersection of the nave and transept are twelve raised panels that form a circle, there are eleven in each end of the transept, ten in the apse and twenty-five in the nave. The twelve circular panels have floral designs combined with themes surrounding the life of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Among these, for instance, is a anchor, as Mary is often referred to as the anchor of the Catholic church. In the very center of the crossing is a large pendant drop which has been polychromed and done in gold-leaf. Flowers have been painted between then panels all throughout the cathedral. |
| Narrative: | The ceiling of the Basilica Cathedral was originally flat. The ornate design of the cathedral ceiling seen today was designed by Bishop Howley and was constructed and painted white, beginning in 1903 by the Conway's, who were a local family and skilled slate roofers, originally from Ireland. In 1955 the Rambusch Company, based in the United States, was hired to repaint the ceiling a different colour while keeping the design the same. |
| History of Use: | Completed and maintained over a period of 52 years by different members of the Conway family of St. John's, and repainted in 1955 by the Rambusch Company from New York. |
| Quantity: | 1 |
| Number of Components: | 1 |
| Component Part Names: | ceiling |
| Subject/Image: | architecture |
| Institution: | Basilica Museum |
| Institution City: | St. John's |
| Institution Province: | Newfoundland & Labrador |
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