Kneeling Madonna

Busy day in the cathedral on Thursday, lots of groups in, especially about 150 schoolchildren in doing a number of exciting sessions with the fabulous education teams. I joined in the paper aeroplane session, but failed miserably. The blip shows Kneeling Madonna by Giovanni Della Robbia. Its a 15th century statue in wood and is now complimented by a figure of the Christ Child. Robbia worked in Italy in the late 15th/ early 16th century and this piece has been attributed to the school of this artist. Probably originally part of a nativity set.  In 2002 the Cathedral Chapter commissioned Don McKinlay (Rossendale) to create a Christ Child to be set alongside the Madonna. The commission was given in memory of Dean Derrick Walters who died in 2000.
Filling in today (Friday) at Speke on the final weekend of Tudor tours. Before the house closes on Sunday to prepare for the Christmas festivities. Father Christmas will soon be dusting off his lovely red gown. If you are very lucky, you may get a chance to see behind the scenes in the hall and grotto. Have an amazing weekend and be careful with your sparklers..Ho Ho Ho (sorry I know its still too early)