Stations of the Cross at Westminster

Westminster Cathedral in London has two famous sets of stations of the Cross: one very visible, the other not so

In the interior of the Cathedral proper are the celebrated Stations by the artist Eric Gill

The other set, in the Long Gallery are the Stations by the artist Roy de Maistre (1894 - 1968).

The two sets are quite different.

Eric Gill 1882 - 1940

Station of the Cross #2: Jesus receives his cross

November 1914

Derbyshire limestone

Westminster Cathedral, London

Eric Gill 1882 - 1940

Station of the Cross #13: The body of Jesus is taken from the cross

March 1915

Derbyshire limestone

Westminster Cathedral, London

Gill became a Catholic in 1913. At that time he promoted his faith through his work. They were not intended to be works of art. They were to be aids to meditation.

At the moment the British Museum has a small exhibition on the works of Eric Gill which finishes in August 2011. It is entitled Eric Gill: public and private art

The Museum says:

"The display concentrates attention on Gill’s art and ideas, rather than focusing on the sensational aspects of his private life which have become dominant in recent years."

Included are the drawings for the Stations of the Cross in Westminster Cathedral. Here is the design by Gill made in 1914 for the project. The original small scale drawing of the complete set of Stations, made for submission to the Cathedral Architect, was purchased by the British Museum from an exhibition at the Alpine Club in 1918.

Eric Gill 1882 - 1940

First design for the Stations of the Cross, in Westminster Cathedral; fourteen panels recording Christ's passion, each with caption, beginning with "I JESUS.IS.CONDEMNED.TO.DEATH.", and ending with "XIV JESUS.IS.LAID.IN.THE.TOMB". 1914

Pen and grey ink, touched with watercolour and gold, squared for transfer

275 millimetres x 241 millimetres

The British Museum, London

Here is a proof of an illustration for Station 1:

Eric Gill 1882 - 1940

Proof of illustration of Station I, after the artist's 'Stations of the Cross' in Westminster Cathedral. 1917

Wood-engraving, on tissue paper

57 millimetres x 58 millimetres

The British Museum, London

Here is the Sheet of fourteen images of Christ with titles and text below (woodcut) with designs for the Stations of the Cross in Westminster Cathedral. c.1910-20, again by Eric Gill and in The British Museum:

The Long Gallery connects the Clergy House with the Cathedral. Here are situated the less controversial stations by Roy de Maistre (27 March 1894 – 1 March 1968). De Maistre converted to the Catholic faith in 1951. It was after his conversion that his work included religious art.

Of the commission de Maistre wrote:

"I was left completely free to portray the Stations of the Cross and was certainly not advised on any iconography."

Apart from The Westminster Cathedral website there would not appear to be any online images of this major work. However here is De Maistre`s treatment of The Deposition painted in 1949 and from The British Council collection

Roy De Maistre (1894 − 1968)

The Deposition 1949

Oil on canvas

142 X 112 cm

The British Council, London