Alan Durst
Encyclopedia
Alan Durst was a British
sculptor and wood carver. A member of the London Group
of artists. Three of Durst's work are held in the permanent collection of Tate Gallery
.
, Hampshire
, England
on June 27, 1883. He was the son of William Durst who was the Rector of Alverstoke. He was in fact born in the rectory and was educated at Marlborough College and in Switzerland. He married Elizabeth Clare Amy Barlow on the 11th December 1918.
Durst served in the Royal Marine Light Infantry, first joining in 1901 and details of this service are shown in record ADM/196/63 held at The National Archive. He served until 1913 but was recalled the next year for "Service in Emergency"and again during the 1939-1945 conflict.
Interesting to see in his record notes that he was also recalled in April 1921 for emergency service necessitated by the Coal Strike.
Below is a reproduction of two pages from this record which summarise his service.
In 1913 he was placed on the "Retired List" and enrolled at the L.C.C.Central School of Arts and Crafts but returned to the Royal Marines in July 1914 and served from 1914 to 1919. In his private papers held at Tate Britain Archive Durst writes that he would often while away the time in his cabin when at sea by executing small carvings in ivory and in one of his photograph albums he features a Tea caddie with delicately carved ivory panels and adds the note "carved while at sea on active service-1918"
We learn from Durst's record that he was awarded the three campaign records, The 1914-15 Star and the British and Victory Medals ("Pip, Squeak and Wilfred" as they were known.)
As part of his studies Durst visited Chartres in early 1914. He went in fact to study stained glass windows but in his private papers held at Tate Britain Archive he explained that he was so taken with the magnificence of the statuary of Chartres Cathedral that he determined to pursue sculpture as a career.As Durst puts it, seeing the Chartres statues “opened a door for me”.
After leaving art school Durst became Curator of the George Frederic Watts
Museum in Compton from 1919 to 1920. He left that museum to take up sculpture and wood carving on a full time basis, and taught wood carving at the Royal College of Art
from 1925 to 1940 and from 1945 to 1948. Durst had his first solo exhibition at the Leicester Galleries in London in 1930 and another in 1935. He was a regular exhibitor at the Royal Academy
. We learn from Durst's Tate Britain Archive papers that when Durst returned to his studies after the 1914-1918 war he was very much drawn to the concept of "Direct Carving" as advocated by Jacob Epstein
and Eric Gill
. He also states that he was an admirer of Henri Gaudier-Brzeska
the French sculptor killed in action in 1915.
He was appointed a member of The British School at Rome in 1945- Faculty of Sculpture.
Durst died on the 22nd December, 1970 and his funeral took place on Tuesday 29 December 1970 at Golders Green Crematorium.
At the bottom of the tablet are the words-"They that go down to the sea in ships/That do business in great waters/These see the works of the LORD/And his wonders in the deep."
Here are some photographs of the Clergy and Choir Stalls.
Durst received many commissions to carve tombstones including the Bennett headstone in Winchfield cemetery carved in 1948, the Walters headstone in Kensal Rise Roman Catholic Cemetery, the tombstone of Ellen Cobbold in Stopham Churchyard in Sussex,the headstone of Helene Pfister in Norwood Greek Cemetery and also in Stopham Churchyard the Portland stone tombstone for William Beech Masefield who was the Rector of Stopham.
The Processional Cross shows Durst's skills as a carver in ivory and below are photographs of the two sides of that cross. One side shows Christ the King and the other the "Tree of Life".
Further images are shown below. Firstly we see one of the uprights supporting the Rood Screen and then in the gallery we see a photograph of the rood screen as seen from the nave, and then Durst's carvings of each of the sacraments Baptism, Confirmation, Absolution, Holy Communion, Holy Orders, Holy Matrimony and Holy Unction, the seven ways in which God continues to give his love to the world. There are also some photographs of the carved uprights.
Some further photographs of this remarkable work are shown in the gallery below:-
Some further photographs of the south porch carving are shown below, these taken on a visit to Manchester Cathedral on 17th March 2011.
We start with the left hand side of the relief and then in the gallery we see the whole relief, the right hand side and the centre.
Durst also wrote the book “Wood Carving”- ISBN=0670781002 published in New York by Viking Press.
There is also a reference to Durst in an article in the Yorkshire Evening Post regarding the "Headingly Shire Oak". It seems that Durst was sent a piece of the tree for carving!
Those who were privileged to work with Alan Durst were able to fully appreciate his integrity and his indomitable spirit; to enjoy with him his love of fine buildings and his pride in being senior Associate of the Royal Academy and to be enfolded in his gentle goodness and kind courtesy.
In 1964 when he had finished carving seven statues for the upper part of Peterborough Cathedral he told me that in his early days when he wanted to learn “direct carving” he found that the art schools of the day could only teach him modelling; for it was still the fashion for sculptors to make models which were then translated into stone or marble by technicians using pointers and masons’ skills.
After World War 1 the more realistic approach to sculpture enabled him to learn the techniques of direct carving and this equipped him to devote the rest of his life to spirited direct carving in stone, wood and ivory. From the summer of 1914 his life ambition was to complete a series of statues carved in the spirit he had extracted from Chartres. He achieved this ambition in 1962-64. The statues he carved are stored at Peterborough.
Amongst Alan Durst’s outstanding works must be numbered the oakscreen and rood at Woodchurch, Wirral, 1935 in collaboration with architect Bernard Miller and the font at Llandaff Cathedral 1952. The small and delightful label stops he carved for Winchester Cathedral depict the wild birds which he had loved to watch in his childhood spent in the close.
The ivory Annunciation carved in 1948 he gave to Peterborough Cathedral in 1968 to be a memorial to his dearly loved wife, Clare. This delicate and original treatment of the subject is to be placed in a special setting in the cathedral’s new Treasury”
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
sculptor and wood carver. A member of the London Group
London Group
The London Group is an artists' exhibiting society based in London, England, founded in 1913, when the Camden Town Group came together with the English Vorticists and other independent artists to challenge the domination of the Royal Academy, which had become unadventurous and conservative....
of artists. Three of Durst's work are held in the permanent collection of Tate Gallery
Tate Gallery
The Tate is an institution that houses the United Kingdom's national collection of British Art, and International Modern and Contemporary Art...
.
Career
Alan Lydiat Durst was born in AlverstokeAlverstoke
Alverstoke is a parish in the borough of Gosport, Hampshire, England, that encompasses land stretching from Haslar to Stokes Bay. Alverstoke lies within half a mile of the shore of Stokes Bay and near the head of a creek which extends a mile westward from Portsmouth Harbour...
, Hampshire
Hampshire
Hampshire is a county on the southern coast of England in the United Kingdom. The county town of Hampshire is Winchester, a historic cathedral city that was once the capital of England. Hampshire is notable for housing the original birthplaces of the Royal Navy, British Army, and Royal Air Force...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
on June 27, 1883. He was the son of William Durst who was the Rector of Alverstoke. He was in fact born in the rectory and was educated at Marlborough College and in Switzerland. He married Elizabeth Clare Amy Barlow on the 11th December 1918.
Durst served in the Royal Marine Light Infantry, first joining in 1901 and details of this service are shown in record ADM/196/63 held at The National Archive. He served until 1913 but was recalled the next year for "Service in Emergency"and again during the 1939-1945 conflict.
Interesting to see in his record notes that he was also recalled in April 1921 for emergency service necessitated by the Coal Strike.
Below is a reproduction of two pages from this record which summarise his service.
In 1913 he was placed on the "Retired List" and enrolled at the L.C.C.Central School of Arts and Crafts but returned to the Royal Marines in July 1914 and served from 1914 to 1919. In his private papers held at Tate Britain Archive Durst writes that he would often while away the time in his cabin when at sea by executing small carvings in ivory and in one of his photograph albums he features a Tea caddie with delicately carved ivory panels and adds the note "carved while at sea on active service-1918"
We learn from Durst's record that he was awarded the three campaign records, The 1914-15 Star and the British and Victory Medals ("Pip, Squeak and Wilfred" as they were known.)
As part of his studies Durst visited Chartres in early 1914. He went in fact to study stained glass windows but in his private papers held at Tate Britain Archive he explained that he was so taken with the magnificence of the statuary of Chartres Cathedral that he determined to pursue sculpture as a career.As Durst puts it, seeing the Chartres statues “opened a door for me”.
After leaving art school Durst became Curator of the George Frederic Watts
George Frederic Watts
George Frederic Watts, OM was a popular English Victorian painter and sculptor associated with the Symbolist movement. Watts became famous in his lifetime for his allegorical works, such as Hope and Love and Life...
Museum in Compton from 1919 to 1920. He left that museum to take up sculpture and wood carving on a full time basis, and taught wood carving at the Royal College of Art
Royal College of Art
The Royal College of Art is an art school located in London, United Kingdom. It is the world’s only wholly postgraduate university of art and design, offering the degrees of Master of Arts , Master of Philosophy and Doctor of Philosophy...
from 1925 to 1940 and from 1945 to 1948. Durst had his first solo exhibition at the Leicester Galleries in London in 1930 and another in 1935. He was a regular exhibitor at the Royal Academy
Royal Academy
The Royal Academy of Arts is an art institution based in Burlington House on Piccadilly, London. The Royal Academy of Arts has a unique position in being an independent, privately funded institution led by eminent artists and architects whose purpose is to promote the creation, enjoyment and...
. We learn from Durst's Tate Britain Archive papers that when Durst returned to his studies after the 1914-1918 war he was very much drawn to the concept of "Direct Carving" as advocated by Jacob Epstein
Jacob Epstein
Sir Jacob Epstein KBE was an American-born British sculptor who helped pioneer modern sculpture. He was born in the United States, and moved to Europe in 1902, becoming a British citizen in 1911. He often produced controversial works which challenged taboos on what was appropriate subject matter...
and Eric Gill
Eric Gill
Arthur Eric Rowton Gill was a British sculptor, typeface designer, stonecutter and printmaker, who was associated with the Arts and Crafts movement...
. He also states that he was an admirer of Henri Gaudier-Brzeska
Henri Gaudier-Brzeska
Henri Gaudier-Brzeska was a French sculptor who developed a rough hewn, primitive style of direct carving....
the French sculptor killed in action in 1915.
He was appointed a member of The British School at Rome in 1945- Faculty of Sculpture.
Durst died on the 22nd December, 1970 and his funeral took place on Tuesday 29 December 1970 at Golders Green Crematorium.
Works
Major commissions include:-- Two carved heads for Churchwardens' Staves at St Paul's Church, Bury in Lancashire. Sadly this church has closed but the staves are still used when the congregation meet at St Paul's Parish School.
- For Christ Church in Chalford, Gloucestershire an oak reredos dating from 1947.It takes form of a triptych with carving of Jesus Christ in the centre with kneeling angels on either side. The two side panels hold paintings by Nan Reid and on the outer wing left Durst has carved Matthew and on the outer wing right John.
- A hanging rood carved for the Church of Saint Andrew the Apostle in Bolton upon Dearne near Rotherham in Yorkshire.
- A Rood beam and Rood for the Church of St Illtyds in Llantwit Major. Features Jesus Christ in the centre with Mary on the left and John on the right. This work dates from 1954.
- A reredos carved from oak and dated 1956 at Holy Trinity Church in Seer Green, Buckinghamshire. The reredos features five figures with Jesus Christ in the centre. The words "BELOVED LET US LOVE ONE ANOTHER FOR LOVE IS OF GOD" are inscribed at the bottom. Here is a photograph showing Christ and two other figures.
- An Altar Cross and Candesticks for the Church of St Andrew and St Mary in How Caple, Herefordshire. These date from 1944 and are in walnut and ivory
- An Ivory and Ebony Altar Cross for the Parish Church of St Leonard in Middleton near Manchester.
- An Ivory and Ebony Crucifix and Candlesticks made for St Augustine's Chapel in Canterbury Cathedral.
- For the Maritime Museum at Greenwich carvings from oak of the head of a sailor and a marine. Acquired by the War Artists’ Committee in 1944.
- For St Alphege Church in Solihull, six figures in the chancel each of which stands on late 13th century carved stone corbels. They were installed in 1950/1951 in memory of Lily Waters who had died in 1949. The figures represent the Virgin Mary, St Alphege, St Peter, St Luke and a cherubim and a seraphim. See photographs below.
- Four guardian Angels in the Sanctuary roof of the Church of St Michael and All Angels, Tettenhall near Wolverhampton. Each Angel carries a symbol: One carries the paten and another the chalice, these representing the Eucharist, another the censer indicating the offering of prayer and worship and the fourth the trumpet symbolizing the proclaiming of the gospel.
- Tablet in a church in Heswall in Cheshire dedicated to a sailor who died when the submarine "Thetis" sank in 1939.
At the bottom of the tablet are the words-"They that go down to the sea in ships/That do business in great waters/These see the works of the LORD/And his wonders in the deep."
- The masks of Comedy and of Tragedy over the entrance to the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art. A photograph of these are shown above and some further studies are shown in the gallery at the end of this article. In Durst's composition the figure of "Comedy" wears the mask of "Tragedy" and that of "Tragedy" wears the mask of "Comedy"
- An Altar Cross and Candlesticks in Ivory and Ebony in the chapel of Marlborough College, these dating from 1928. The Altar Cross bears the inscription "The Tree of Life 19 ALD 28".
- A Processional Cross in Ivory and Ebony for St Matthews Church, Brixton, South London. Executed in 1919.
- The work "Fruit Seller" held by Bradford 1 Gallery in Centenary Square, Bradford. It is on display at the time of writing (9/02/2011).
- 24 carvings in stone on the exterior of Merchant Taylors SchoolMerchant Taylors' School, NorthwoodMerchant Taylors' School is a British independent day school for boys, originally located in the City of London. Since 1933 it has been located at Sandy Lodge in the Three Rivers district of Hertfordshire ....
, Sandy Lodge. Middlesex. These include “The Owl of Athene” and “The Raven of Apollo” on the outside of the Great Hall and “David” “Socrates” “Dante” “Shakespeare” “Goethe” “St.Paul” and “Isaac Newton” on the outside of the library. Durst carried out this work in 1932.
- Carvings on Clergy and Choir Stalls for Holy Trinity Church,Northwood. Carved in 1957 from English Oak. These were dedicated by The Bishop of London. The carvings express Prayer, Praise and Harmony. The Vicar's stall on the right shows two angels kneeling in prayer at the step of an altar. Between them is a symbol of the Holy Trinity with the Cross set above the world superimposed on three intersecting circles. The other clergy stall on the left symbolising Praise shows two angels, each holding in one hand a crown and in the other a ribbon proclaiming: "Holy, Holy, Holy". The benchends of the choir stalls express Harmony. Firstly, those on the west end of the stalls represent from the left: trumpet, cymbal and pipe; and from the right, organ, lute and harp. On the east end of the benches on the left are lyre, lute and tabret; and on the right sackbut, cornet and psaltery.
Here are some photographs of the Clergy and Choir Stalls.
- A marble "Pieta" carved in 1930 and held by the Manchester Art Gallery, though not currently on display.
- A statue of St Matthew for the church in Hutton Buscel in Yorkshire. The statue stands in a niche in the South Porch.
- A font in Alcaster stone for St Christopher's Church in Withington near Manchester. See images below:-
- A small statue in Portland stone commemorating Randolph Schwabe the illustrator, draughtsman and costume designer. The statue was placed over Schwabe's ashes. The statue stands against the wall of a churchyard at Hampstead. Wrapped around the angel is a narrow banner on which is written: "Randolph Schwabe in whose life we have seen excellence in beauty."
- An Altar Cross for St Peter's Church in Petersfield, Hampshire. This takes the form of a Crucifix, with bearded figure of Christ in draped cape and robe, crowned and with a halo, closed eyes, outstretched arms and open hands, with feet supported on a sloping ledge. It is carved in one piece and stands on a dome-shaped base in which is incised the symbol "Chi Rho". Above the figure is a chalice within a double entwined raised circle representing Faith. The piece is dated 1953 and the sculptor's name and the date 1953 are carved under the base. The Altar Cross is carved from English walnut. In the same Church are two wooden candlesticks carved by Durst. One has four motifs: crossed keys: an axe, a serpent and a sword. The other also has four, all winged objects with heads: a haloed man, a lion, an ox, and an eagle. Each has a carved inscription in roman caps and l/c on the base. The carving of the motifs is combined with the capital letters of the inscription, which itself is difficult to interpret. The candlesticks are carved from English walnut and date from 1953.A photograph of the Altar Cross is shown below.
- A wooden war memorial in the Church of the Ascension, Beaufort Road, Hanger Hill, London W5. The work was installed in 1946, carved in Indian butternut wood and is a group sculpture: the risen Christ with Madonna and St John on either side. Durst also carved in ivory a small baptismal shell for the same church. It is 6" long.
- Two cherubs carved from oak in 1928 and for the chapel of Uppingham School in Rutland.
- A coat of arms carved for St Chad's College in the University of Durham. Clipsham stone was used.
- A Madonna and Child for the church in Cawood near Selby in Yorkshire. This work was completed in 1961 to replace a previous sculpture which had been lost. See image below.
- A fountain sculpture featuring Sea Lions commissioned in 1960 by the London County CouncilLondon County CouncilLondon County Council was the principal local government body for the County of London, throughout its 1889–1965 existence, and the first London-wide general municipal authority to be directly elected. It covered the area today known as Inner London and was replaced by the Greater London Council...
for an old peoples home in Greenlaw Street in the Docklands area.
- A "Majestas Domini" for St Martin of Tours Church in Middlesbrough, England.
- A carved tombstone on the Distin family grave which is in the graveyard of St Michael Church, Addingham in Cumbria. See image below.The work was carried out in 1949 and the tombstone now shows the effects of many years of exposure to the elements. At the top of the tombstone it is inscribed "EX ILLUSTRI ET PER ANTIQUA STIRPE PROGNATA".
Durst received many commissions to carve tombstones including the Bennett headstone in Winchfield cemetery carved in 1948, the Walters headstone in Kensal Rise Roman Catholic Cemetery, the tombstone of Ellen Cobbold in Stopham Churchyard in Sussex,the headstone of Helene Pfister in Norwood Greek Cemetery and also in Stopham Churchyard the Portland stone tombstone for William Beech Masefield who was the Rector of Stopham.
- The Dickinson Memorial in Painswick Church and carved from Hoptonwood stone.
- Four carvings for R.M.S."Queen Mary". These were "Struggle", "Cat" and "Hind and Young", all three in stone, and "Horse" carved from Sienna Marble.
- The work in gilded wood “Christ in Majesty” for St Mary the Great Church in Cambridge which is the University church.Alan Durst's work was installed as a reredos in 1960, it is given a clear view because there is no screen to the chancel. See image below.
- Works for Peterborough Cathedral including an ivory Annunciation in St.Kyneburgha’s chapel. Durst completed several replacement figures for the West Front between 1949 and 1965. These include the figures of St James the Less, St John and St Thomas added in 1949, the figure of Grosseteste added in 1958, St Kyneburgha and the replacement head for King Paeda and Abbott Saxulph, all added in 1959 together with Aethelwold and the head of St Dunstan added in 1965. Below is a photograph of two of the West Front statues. That on the left is by Durst.
- Three carvings over the doors of the dining hall at Rossall School in Lancashire. These are pierced gilt relief carvings in American basswood. One represents "Fowl" and the other two "Fish" and "Flesh". Each has a base measurement of 2 feet 8 inches and a thickness of 3 inches.
- Statue of St Boniface in Newcombes Meadow, Crediton, Devon. The Portland Stone statue of the young Boniface was unveiled on the 24th July 1960 by HRH Princess Margaret.
- Wood carving on the memorial in Winchester Cathedral to Canon Bertram Kier Cunningham, this memorial completed in 1944.The carving was shown at the Royal Academy in 1942 before going to Winchester. It can be found in the east aisle in front of the tablet to Mary Pescod. The carving is a representation of "The Annunciation" and features the Angel Gabriel appearing before the Virgin Mary and greeting her with the words "Greetings, favoured one, the Lord is with you" -Ave,gratia plena, Dominus tecum or more simply Ave Maria. Gabriel tells Mary that she would bear a son to be called Jesus. As is often the case Mary is shown reading a book on which would be written "Ecce virgo concipiet et pariet filium" (Behold, the Virgin will conceive and will give birth to a son" -Isaiah 7:14). At the back of the work Durst carved several reliefs including a representation of the turning of water into wine. As the whole piece is close to a wall Durst's reliefs are not seen to their best advantage and are difficult to photograph. Just behind Mary, Durst has carved a dove in which form the Holy Spirit was said to have descended on Mary. Mary replied to Gabriel with the words "Behold the handmaiden of the Lord, let it be to me according to your will" Luke 1:26-38. It is believed tht the conception of Jesus took place at this moment and the "Festival of the Annunciation" is held on 25 March, exactly nine months before the birth of Jesus is celebrated. A photograph of the Winchester Cathedral work is shown below and further images in the gallery below that. Also included in the gallery are photographs of various birds which Durst was commissioned to carve on the terminals of the Winchester Cathedral Drip mouldings round the windows-these included woodpeckers, a thrush and robin, a blackbird and wren, a jackdaw , an owl, a seagull and a nesting swallow.
- A marble figure of a horse on a wooden base, this held in the Smithsonian American Art Museum, this a gift of International Business Machines Corporation in 1966.
- An Altar Cross at Kingswood School, Bath. This was carved from walnut in 1937.The carving features a representation of the "Tree of Life" and the text on the base of the cross reads "The Leaves of the Tree were for the Healing of the Nations"
- The Rood-screen at the Church of the Holy Cross in Woodchurch, an area of Birkenhead on the Wirral Peninsula, England and an ivory Processional Cross for the same church. The Rood-screen was carved in 1933. The west side of the Rood beam, that facing the nave,features carvings of the Seven Sacraments represented as the fruit of the vine which grows downwards from the foot of the cross above. From right to left the Sacraments are Baptism, Confirmation,Absolution, Holy Communion, Holy Orders, Holy Matrimony and Holy Unction. The figures on the supporting columns are- St Augustine of Canterbury, Elijah, St.Peter, St Luke, Moses, and St Columba. On the east side of the screen the Christ of the Apocalypse features at the top and on the beam beneath a priest is shown at the altar elevating the Host as the central act of the Church's worship. These two themes were proposed by the Reverend Bryan Robin who was the rector of the church at the time. This information is taken from Durst's book "Wood Carving". Robin was later the Bishop of Adelaide. The rood screen was given to the church in memory of Blanche Burroughs by her family. She lived from 1859 to 1929. Below is a recent photograph of the Rood-screen.
The Processional Cross shows Durst's skills as a carver in ivory and below are photographs of the two sides of that cross. One side shows Christ the King and the other the "Tree of Life".
Further images are shown below. Firstly we see one of the uprights supporting the Rood Screen and then in the gallery we see a photograph of the rood screen as seen from the nave, and then Durst's carvings of each of the sacraments Baptism, Confirmation, Absolution, Holy Communion, Holy Orders, Holy Matrimony and Holy Unction, the seven ways in which God continues to give his love to the world. There are also some photographs of the carved uprights.
- An alabaster bear in the foyer of the T.A.Collins Langmoor School in Leicestershire.
- The work "The Acrobats" held in Tate Britain- a carving from walnut. Durst was said to be one of several artists who looked to African art in order to revitalise modern European sculpture and the unusual arrangement of figures in "The Acrobats" allowed him to adopt elements that were typical of West African carvings, notably the buckled, stocky legs. The work was carved from walnut in 1927 and it was presented to the Tate by Tate members in 2002.
- Also held by Tate Britain is the work "Girl Binding her hair" which dates from 1929, a sculpture carved from Derbyshire fossil stone and standing on a black marble base, this presented in 1965 by the Trustees of the Chantrey Bequest and the 1930 work "Feline". The work entitled “Feline” a stone carving dating from 1930 was presented to the Tate by the executors of Mrs.Herbert Gibson in 1932. Mrs Gibson had purchased the piece from Leicester Galleries having seen it at their 1930 Exhibition. None of these works are on display at present.
- A carved font in Llandaff Cathedral. See image below. The carving around the font, carved from Derbyshire stone, includes scenes from the Bible including Eve giving her account of the temptation before God, Isaiah, St John and the Virgin and Child and the Life of St Teilo. On the upper part of the Font the inscription reads-" QUI CREDERIT ET BAPTIZERATUS EVERIT SALVUS ERIT" (He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved). Part of the carving features the "Tree of Knowledge" with an angel before it holding a flaming sword. Eve kneels beneath the tree holding a tangled scroll. The Serpent is coiled around the tree and strikes at her heel. "SERPENS DECEPIT ME" (the serpent beguileth me). Isaiah prophesies the coming of Christ "ECCE VIRGO CONCIP" (Behold a Virgin shall conceive). The Tree of Life is shown against which stands the Angel of the Annunciation. Mary kneels before the cradle-altar upon which lies the infant Christ and Durst carves Saint John's vision. "ET FOLIO LIGNI AD SALVATEM CENTIUM" (The leaves of the Tree shall be for the healing of the Nations). On the pedestal is the Welsh inscription "A DUW NID DA IMDURAW" (It is not good to strive against God) followed by references to St Teilo's life.
Some further photographs of this remarkable work are shown in the gallery below:-
- Another Durst font can be found in the St John the Evangelist Church in Newbury, Berkshire. Durst's carvings around the sides of the font depict the principal events in the life of Jesus and each scene is interspaced by an angel. We see a scene featuring Mary, Joseph, the Shepherds, the Wise Men and the Lamb at Jesus' birth, the Baptism of Jesus by John the Baptist and the Last Supper showing Jesus with his disciples. Many of the disciples are named on the halos around their heads. We also see the risen Jesus in the garden with Mary Magdalene.
- In Manchester CathedralManchester CathedralManchester Cathedral is a medieval church on Victoria Street in central Manchester and is the seat of the Bishop of Manchester. The cathedral's official name is The Cathedral and Collegiate Church of St Mary, St Denys and St George in Manchester...
we can see a 1950 carving by Durst using oak and positioned in a panel above the south porch. The carved scene depicts the Good Shepherd (bearded) with a crook in his right hand and holding a lamb under his left arm. On his right are four sheep with two lambs, and on his left five sheep. Both the outside and inside surfaces of the lintel have inscriptions. On the outer surface of the lintel is inscribed-"I AM THE DOOR OF THE SHEEP" and on the inner surface of the lintel the inscription reads-"THE LORD BE WITH YOU GO IN PEACE". On the left side of the Tympanum "ET/FLET/UNAM/OVILE" is inscribed and on the right hand side "ET/UNUS/PASTOR". Durst also worked with Walter Miller on a Regimental Cross in the Manchester Regiment Regimental Chapel. The cross is constructed of Ebony and Ivory. The base of the cross is rectangular, the edging scalloped, this design repeated in two tiers on the upright stand of the cross. The edging of the cross is outlined in wheat ear design relief. On the arms of the cross, again in ivory relief, are two kneeling angels with folded wings. On the head of the cross again in ivory is a crown. In the centre of the cross is a regimental sword embossed with the Lancashire Rose in relief over the sword and a motif of the crown of thorns also in ivory. The cross and candlesticks originally belonged to the Manchester Regiment, survived the war and have always been kept in the Regimental Chapel. Durst also carved several angels in the roof of the Regimental Chapel.These were in English oak and carved in 1952. These appear on the West-facing side of the tie-beams which were in-filled with eight moulded panels onto which are centrally placed two flying angels holding between them a coat of arms. One coat of arms represents the dove, the "Emblem of the Holy Spirit", another the Arms of Queen Elizabeth, The Queen Mother, who was Colonel-in-Chief of the Manchester Regiment, another the Arms of the City of Manchester, another the Arms of the Earl of Derby and another the Fleur-de-Lys, this being the badge emblem of the Regiment. The roof beams and carvings can be seen in the photograph below.
Some further photographs of the south porch carving are shown below, these taken on a visit to Manchester Cathedral on 17th March 2011.
We start with the left hand side of the relief and then in the gallery we see the whole relief, the right hand side and the centre.
- A bronze entitled “Mountain Goat”. Shown by Christies’ London in their exhibition “Modern British & Irish Paintings Drawings and Sculpture “ in 1984.
- A carving called “Stretching Girl” sold at Christies’ on 10 June 1983. Signed and dated on the right leg ALD 1948.
- A carving in slate called “Daphne” and dating from 1935. Exhibited London Fine Art Society Exhibition “Sculpture in Britain Between the Wars” in 1986 and Christies 1993 Exhibition “Post War Contemporary British Paintings and Watercolours and 20th Century British Sculpture”.
- A carving in wood called “Girl and Seabird”. This dates from 1952.
- Durst also carved a calvary for the churchyard of a church in Roos, near Hull, Yorkshire. On the cross he has carved various items linked to the crucifixion; A hammer and nails, dice and a dice-throwing cup and a crown of thorns. See image below.
Durst also wrote the book “Wood Carving”- ISBN=0670781002 published in New York by Viking Press.
There is also a reference to Durst in an article in the Yorkshire Evening Post regarding the "Headingly Shire Oak". It seems that Durst was sent a piece of the tree for carving!
Images
In the gallery below we can see some further images of Durst’s masks of Comedy and of Tragedy above the entrance to the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art.Obituary
His obituary in "The Times" of 30 November 1970 was written by George Pace and reads-Those who were privileged to work with Alan Durst were able to fully appreciate his integrity and his indomitable spirit; to enjoy with him his love of fine buildings and his pride in being senior Associate of the Royal Academy and to be enfolded in his gentle goodness and kind courtesy.
In 1964 when he had finished carving seven statues for the upper part of Peterborough Cathedral he told me that in his early days when he wanted to learn “direct carving” he found that the art schools of the day could only teach him modelling; for it was still the fashion for sculptors to make models which were then translated into stone or marble by technicians using pointers and masons’ skills.
After World War 1 the more realistic approach to sculpture enabled him to learn the techniques of direct carving and this equipped him to devote the rest of his life to spirited direct carving in stone, wood and ivory. From the summer of 1914 his life ambition was to complete a series of statues carved in the spirit he had extracted from Chartres. He achieved this ambition in 1962-64. The statues he carved are stored at Peterborough.
Amongst Alan Durst’s outstanding works must be numbered the oakscreen and rood at Woodchurch, Wirral, 1935 in collaboration with architect Bernard Miller and the font at Llandaff Cathedral 1952. The small and delightful label stops he carved for Winchester Cathedral depict the wild birds which he had loved to watch in his childhood spent in the close.
The ivory Annunciation carved in 1948 he gave to Peterborough Cathedral in 1968 to be a memorial to his dearly loved wife, Clare. This delicate and original treatment of the subject is to be placed in a special setting in the cathedral’s new Treasury”
External links
- http://www.tate.org.uk/servlet/ArtistWorks?cgroupid=999999961&artistid=1047&page=1&sole=y&collab=y&attr=y&sort=default&tabview=bio Biography on the Tate Gallery website.
- http://www.rev-william-gibson.co.uk/genealogy.php from this comprehensive family tree of the reverend William Gibson we learn that Durst carved the tombstones of his sister Margaret Rosa Durst (buried at Whitchurch) and brother William Herbert Durst buried at Magdalen Hill Cemetery in Winchester.
- http://www.jamd.com/image/g/3416639 A photograph of Alan Durst working on one of his pieces for Peterborough Cathedral
- Holy Cross Church, WoodchurchHoly Cross Church, WoodchurchHoly Cross Church, Woodchurch is in Woodchurch, an area of Birkenhead, Wirral, England. It is an active Anglican parish church in the diocese of Chester, the archdeaconry of Chester and the deanery of Birkenhead. The church is a Grade II* listed building.-History:The fabric of the nave...
Article on Holy Cross Church. - http://www.htnorthwood.co.uk/ Website for Holy Trinity Church in Northwood.