Agnus Dei, 1640, by Francisco de Zurbarán (1598 – 1664)
Whether you choose to see this tethered lamb as a religious symbol as the 17th Century painter Francisco de Zurbarán did, its pathos and dignity is always moving and not just for what is known as Holy Saturday. I like to take this time of year to reflect on the great works of art that can be unfairly neglected in what are, in the West at least, secular times. You don’t need to go along with the theology of Easter to find meaning here.
Similarly the Tenebrae Responsories for Holy Saturday by Carlo Gesualdo (1566 – 1613) can take us to another reality that is far removed from some of the rowdier activities happening elsewhere over the Easter holidays. I plan to take a few moments in the sublimely beautiful world of this music:
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I’m going to be appearing with three of my fellow Ward Wood writers in Greenwich, London on 30th April. Come along if you can – it would be good to see you.
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STEPHEN DEARSLEY’S SUMMER OF LOVE BY COLIN BELL
My novel, Stephen Dearsley’s Summer Of Love, was published on 31 October 2013. It is the story of a young fogey living in Brighton in 1967 who has a lot to learn when the flowering hippie counter culture changes him and the world around him.
It is now available as a paperback or on Kindle (go to your region’s Amazon site for Kindle orders)
You can order the book from the publishers, Ward Wood Publishing:
…or from Book Depository:
…or from Amazon: