HOLMAN HUNT AND SPENCER STANHOPE

ST MARK'S ENGLISH CHURCH IN FLORENCE

APPEAL
 
 
 

re-Raphaelite artists in Florence greatly enriched both Anglican churches, of Holy Trinity in via Marmora and St Mark's in via Maggio. When Holy Trinity was sold to the Valdensians many of the treasures came to St Mark's or they were sold off. Nic Peeters and Judy Oberhausen are now tracing the whereabouts of Spencer Stanhope's paintings for Holy Trinity, several of which have been re-discovered and displayed in the Uffizi at 'The Queens' Gardens' exhibition.

Among the treasures from Holy Trinity that came to St Marks are a silver chalice and paten.

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                                                          Fanny/ Waugh/ Holman Hunt/ Died in Florence/ December 20 1866

Blessed are the pure in heart

In dear and grateful remembrance of CYRIL BENONI HOLMAN HUNT born in Florence Oct 27 1866 died in Bridport  25 July 1934

If you are needing to read the inscriptions, in 'Edit' define the image, then in 'Image', change back to 'Original Size'.

Their inscriptions tell their story. Of Holman Hunt's wife Fanny Waugh who died following childbirth, and of her child Cyril Benoni Holman Hunt who survived her. Mrs Patricia O'Connor, Chairman of the Pre-Raphaelite Society, presented a moving account of this tragedy in Florence, at The City and the Book III international conference held in the Gabinetto Vieusseux's Sala Ferri of the Palazzo Strozzi, June 2004. It can be read at http://www.florin.ms/gimeld.html#oconnor

These are Holman Hunt's potraits of his first wife, Fanny:

Holman Hunt, up at the Villa Medici in Fiesole, then sculpted his wife's tomb, placing it beside that of Elizabeth Barrett Browning, in the 'English' Cemetery in the form of an arc on waves of marble.

Portraits of Cyril Benoni Hunt by his father

Following Patricia O'Connor's paper was that given by Nic Peeters and Judy Oberhausen on the Pre-Raphaelite painter and sculptor John Roddam Spencer Stanhope. It also can be read at http://www.florin.ms/gimeld.html#peetersoberhausen

The Embroidery Case with Original Stenciling at Top 

Though his paintings for Holy Trinity have been dispersed, Spencer Stanhope's delicate brocade stencil wall paintings in St Mark's can still just be seen. It is our hope that this essay as appeal will enable their restoration.

St Marks was badly flooded in 1966. Its structure needing reinforcing, wider columns were built and the lower walls and columns painted an ugly modern chemical and unfading version of Herculaneum red. Already there had been unsightly over painting to bring the church more in keeping with Anglican Victorian pseudo-Medieval taste. But if one looks at the silvery blue and deep red damask stenciling one finds there the original beauty and glory of St Marks. 

The bottom of the left arch shows original stenciling, the remainder, overpainting.

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Silver damask stencilling

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                                        St Mark's English Church, Florence                                                                   John Roddam Spencer Stanhope Memorial, Yorkshire

Spencer Stanhope's Memorial Plaque, to right, shaped like his tomb and that for his daughter, both of which he had sculpted himself. The red square to the left, where there had been a plaque, has the Spencer Stanhope damask stenciling. Its pigments are natural and deep, not chemical and harsh as are the modern column decorating.

Mary Spencer Stanhope, Tomb:  Front         Back                                                                Spencer Stanhope, Mary as Psyche with Charon

The Pulpit

The Embroidery Case and the Font.

The floor is beautiful and harmonious with the original design, but in major need of restoration (grinding down and polishing), of its pietra serena octagons and terra cotta square tiles.
 

The English Church of St.Mark's, Florence is committed to the restoration of its beautiful church, a masterpiece of 19th Century architecture. The target to begin this project is €100,000. To contribute funds for this restoration project, please contact:
 
Father Lawrence MacLean
The English Church of St.Mark's Florence,
Via Maggio, 16
50125 Florence
Italy

Website: http://www.stmarksitaly.com/
e-mail: Father Lawrence Maclean
 

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