A Forgotten Work ?

David Jones  (1895 - 1974)

Saint Dominic

1922–1923 

Oil on canvas

110.5 x 42.5 cm 

National Museum of Wales / Amgueddfa Cymru, Cardiff

This work by the distinguished artist and poet, David Jones, is located in the National Museum of Wales. It is not on display. Its significance is perhaps not recognised

He converted to Catholicism in 1921. He became a Dominican Tertiary in 1923. He joined the Catholic Guild of St Joseph and St Dominic in Ditchling

He was  introduced to Ditchling by Father John O'Connor (a friend of GK Chesterton) in 1921 after having served in the First World War (Father O'Connor was the basis of G. K. Chesterton's fictional detective Father Brown and also brought Jones into the Church)

In 1921 Eric Gill and Hilary Pepler established the Guild of St Joseph and St Dominic on Ditchling Common in Sussex which continued to attract working craftsmen until 1989.

The spiritual force behind the Guild was Father Vincent McNabb (1868-1943) ("The Saint of Hyde Park") Dominican Friar and Priest, greatly admired by Chesterton and Belloc

Most or all members of the Guild became Dominican tertiaries