In this view the two portions of the organ are seen. These grand cases formed the eastern and western fronts of the instrument when it stood over the Choir Screen; they exhibit some of Grinling Gibbons’ finest work. The projecting portion on the north side formerly contained the Choir Organ; the corresponding projection on the south is a copy of the original work.
Looking westward the Great Entrance Doors are seen, and above them a large window of Munich glass, a memorial to Mr. Thomas Brown, a member of the great publishing firm of Messrs. Longman. The main subjects of the window are the conversion of S. Paul on the Damascus Road, and the restoration of sight to the Apostle by Ananias; right and left of the lower subject are kneeling figures of the donor and his wife.
Two of the Mosaics in the pendentives of the Dome are faintly indicated. The eight pendentives exhibit the four greater Prophets, Isaiah, Ezekiel, Jeremiah, Daniel; and the four Evangelists. The work was executed by Dr. Salviati of Venice. Above the Whispering Gallery, beyond the range of the picture, are carved stone figures of the four great Doctors of the Western and of the Eastern Church; for the Western Church, SS. Augustine, Jerome, Gregory the Great, Ambrose; for the Eastern, SS. Chrysostom, Basil, Gregory Nazianzen, Athanasius.
THE NAVE SEEN FROM THE WESTERN END OF THE CHOIR.
THE CHOIR, LOOKING EAST.
The most prominent object in this view is the stately Reredos, the work of Messrs. Bodley & Garner. The following description of it was read by Mr. Garner before the S. Paul’s Ecclesiological Society.
“The design consists of a basement, against which the altar stands, with small doorways to give access to the apse behind. Over these doors which are of pierced brass, are angels supporting the crossed swords and keys, the arms of the diocese, and emblems of S. Paul and S. Peter, and they are flanked by sculptured festoons of fruit and flowers separated by marble panels. Above this is a range of sculptured panels, with coloured marble backgrounds supporting an open colonnade of semi-circular plan. A large group of sculpture, a sort of carved picture in bold relief, occupies the centre, flanked on each side by twisted columns of rich Brescia marble, wreathed with foliage in gilded bronze. These support an entablature and rich pediment. The frieze is of Rosso Antico, bearing the inscription Sic Deus dilexit mundum, ‘So God loved the World,’ in bronze letters. The whole is crowned with a central niche and surrounding statues, at a height of between sixty and seventy feet from the ground.
“The general idea of the sculptured subjects is to express the Incarnation and Life of our Lord, beginning with the two figures at the extremities of the colonnade, which are those of the Angel Gabriel and S. Mary, and represent the Annunciation. The panel on the north side is the Nativity, the large subject in the centre the Crucifixion, with the Entombment beneath it; and the group on the south side the Resurrection. The panels of the pedestals are filled with Angels bearing instruments of the Passion. The niche above the pediment is occupied by the figure of S. Mary with the Divine Child in her arms; the statues of S. Paul and S. Peter on either hand. The figure on the summit of the niche is an ideal one of the Risen Saviour.
“The entire Altar Screen is executed in white Parian marble, with bands and panels of Rosso Antico, Verdi di Prato, and Brescia marble. The enrichments are generally gilt, the steps in front of the Altar are of white marble, and the pavement of Rosso Antico, Brescia, and Verdi di Prato.” See Rev. L. Gilbertson’s Guide.