The Duke’s Graves.

The Pierrepont and Manvers graves, Perlethorpe Church, Thoresby Estate.

As a 1950’s child I was christened and Confirmed at the appropriate ages. Hence my links with the above location. An integral part of a Church of England village education was the Sunday school classes. To be honest, the only attraction of Sunday school for me was simply collecting the exquisitely illustrated attendance stamps, no doubt an early pictorial influence.

My intention above was to avoid all sense of Gothic gloom or melodrama. This is a very peaceful, quiet place. The sunlight really does stream across from the South like that. The ducal gravestones adhere to a well-planned formation which must have been conceived centuries ago. A real sense of pride in their accomplishments lingers here, even though the subjects are long since gone. The most recent stone is that of Lady Manvers (third from right), her husband having been buried on that spot in 1955, she in 1984.

More information about Thoresby Park and Perlethorpe Village can be found on THIS LINK.
More information about Lady Manvers on THIS LINK and THIS LINK.

All text, pros, poetry & artwork, copyright Ian Gordon Craig.

 

 

 

Perlethorpe Church

 

I made a drawing of Perlethorpe Church in a very small sketchbook, whilst sat amongst the Duke's graves. Then in my studio I made an acylic painting from the sketch, on stretched brown wrapping paper. My intention was to make an expressive piece, avoiding all photographic references.

EDIT: I returned to this subject, and this view, in January 2017. See THIS LINK.

 All text, pros, & artwork, copyright Ian Gordon Craig.