A Resurrection In A Kentish Churchyard

[poliphilo]

This headstone- dated 1781- is in the churchyard at West Farleigh, near Maidstone. The design is not uncommon;  I've seen versions of it in churchyards all over Kent- but I've never seen one in such good condition.

The masons must have had access to pattern books- because the versions I know are all very similar,  Either that or we're looking at the work of a single mason or school of masons, active over a wide area.

In the centre a deceased person rises from a sarcophagus, on the left an angel blows its trumpet and a tower comes tumbling down, on the right a winged figure- who may be Father Time because it seems to have a beard- triumphs over Death- represented as a crowned skeleton. The winged figure has hold of Death's dart and is breaking it in two.

Comments

[artkouros.livejournal.com]

I'd love to see those old pattern books. I wonder if they are around somewhere, or if they were considered secret knowledge?

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

I've never seen a pattern book or anything of the kind. Perhaps each workshop had its own stock of designs- and kept them under wraps. We are talking about Masons, after all.

[lblanchard.livejournal.com]

Very complex, and it's stood up better than the inscription.

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

The lettering is elegant and shallowly cut while the relief carving is bold and crude. I suspect they may have been done by done by different hands.