PHOTO OPPORTUNITY: TODAY (Thursday, December 7), at 12noon, King鈥檚 College Chapel, 黑料网
A reconstruction of three of the 黑料网鈥檚 most treasured paintings will be reinstalled today (Thursday, December 6) in their rightful home at King鈥檚 College Chapel after a gap of 400 years.
A portrait of Bishop William Elphinstone, founder of King鈥檚 College in 1495, is one of the earliest portraits of a Scot. Painted from life by an unknown artist about 500 years ago, it was one of the University鈥檚 most treasured possessions. Historic records reveal that it was once, alongside a portrait of Elphinstone鈥檚 patron King James IV and a depiction of the Nativity, part of a wooden triptych that stood on the high altar of King鈥檚 College Chapel.
Today, for the first time in over four centuries, a reconstruction of the triptych will be unveiled in King鈥檚 College Chapel to celebrate Advent. Unlike the original, however, this one has been created by the primary seven class of St Peter鈥檚 RC School.
The pupils had been investigating Old Aberdeen and visited the University鈥檚 Marischal Museum where they studied the portrait of Bishop Elphinstone. Inspired by this, they decided to recreate the missing panels and create a triptych for the 21st century.
With the generous help of Aberdeen-based repro Overflow, a combination of collage, painting and modern technology has been used to create a contemporary triptych that also features Saint Machar, Saint Andrew and Saint Peter.
Irene Wischik, P7 class teacher at St Peter鈥檚 RC School, said: 鈥淎s well as resulting in a wonderful recreation of a medieval triptych, the children have learnt lots about Old Aberdeen in the Middle Ages.
鈥淭hey have also been able to combine their individual creativity into something that none could have done individually.鈥�
Placed in the communion table, close to its original position, the triptych, at almost two metres wide, is a striking addition to the Chapel.
The Rev. Easter Smart, University Chaplain, said: 鈥淪eeing the triptych here is a reminder of the many people over five centuries whose lives are connected by the Chapel.
鈥淚t is particularly, appropriate that, with its illustration of the Nativity, this triptych created by children has been unveiled during Advent.鈥�
Neil Curtis, Senior Curator of Marischal Museum, said: 鈥淚t has been very exciting to watch the University鈥檚 most famous painting being brought to life in this way. It also shows the importance of the University鈥檚 links with the local community.鈥�