John R. Herbert RA, St Gregory teaching his Chant

St Gregory teaching his Chant, 1845

John R. Herbert RA (1810 - 1890)

RA Collection: Art

J.R. Herbert converted to Roman Catholicism in 1840 and spent the remainder of his career painting religious subjects and portraits of religious figures. When he exhibited this painting at the Royal Academy in 1845, Herbert also showed a portrait of the Gothic Revival architect and designer A.W.N. Pugin (Palace of Westminster).

In the 1840s Herbert, like William Dyce, who he had worked under in the Kensington Schools of Design, and Pugin, keenly promoted the revival of medieval Church liturgy, ritual, music and chants. It is appropriate therefore that his Diploma work depicts St. Gregory (590-604), who is attributed with the arrangement of the first Roman chant. Herbert’s portrays Gregory teaching the chant to a group of young choristers.

Object details

Title
St Gregory teaching his Chant
Artist/designer
John R. Herbert RA (1810 - 1890)
Date
1845
Object type
Painting
Medium
Oil on canvas
Dimensions

835 mm x 1190 mm, Weight: 36 kg

Collection
Royal Academy of Arts
Object number
03/832
Acquisition
Diploma Work given by John R. Herbert RA accepted 1846

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