PARISH WONDERING

Evening Post, Volume CXIII, Issue 125, 31 May 1927, Page 15

PARISH WONDERING

A MURAL PAINTING

(From "Ths Post's" Reprss.htatlve. LONDON, 14th April. , A remarkable Biblical mural painting, in which the figures appear in ounge smts and. soft hats, is slowly taking shape in All Hallows' Church, •bast India Dock road, Poplar ' It is thf work of Miss Evelyn Dodgson, a foiaier student at the Slade School. lh.i picture represents Christ addressin? the multitude from a boat on Lake Galilee. The figure of Christ has not yet been sketohed, and is represented only by a halo. It is believed in the parish, however, that it is to be treated in the traditional way. The picture presents a panoramic view of the lake, with undulating hills towering above it on the distant shore. In the centre, and close to the forushore, four fishing boats lie moored. It is the heterogeneous crowa standing beside the water that has attracted attention. The brush so far has only washed their forms, yet it is clear that there are among them men dressed as though to go to the city, one man: with shirt open at the neck and trousers rolled above their knees for paddling, and hatiess wemej.straight from their domestic duties. At the water's edge a priest kneels devoutly and behind him stands a monk with folded arms; Beside this pair a family lies sprawled upon the ground—father, mother, and children. They might well be picnicking on Hampstead Heath on a bank holiday. In the extreme right of the picture a girl is arriving on a pony, and a man accompanying her ii slighting from his horse. Around and about this strange, incongruous throng seagulls are circling. At the present etago, however, it is impossible to gauge the ultimate effect, and the parish is wondering.