Melchizedek Offering the Bread and Wine
from Scenes from the Old Testament

Photo © Martin Crampin, Imaging the Bible in Wales larger image

about 1885 Set of five roundels under the arcading of the sanctuary apse surrounded by rich decoration. From left to right: Abel offering up a lamb, the gathering of manna in the desert, Melchizedek offering the bread and wine, the sacrifice of the Paschal Lamb and Abraham sacrificing Isaac. Central panel from the series, above the altarpiece. technique: painting artist: Lavers, Barraud & Westlake Church of St Mary the Virgin, Cardiff sanctuary apse The painter of the scene was either Philip Westlake, who painted the reredos, or Nathaniel Westlake, a partner of Lavers, Barraud and Westlake, the firm who were commissioned by the architect, J.D. Sedding. The five scenes are all 'types' from the Old Testament of the two principal themes of the Eucharist - sacrifice (The sacrifice of Isaac, Melchizedek bringing forth the bread and wine, Abel offering up a lamb) and communion (manna in the wilderness and the paschal lamb). The order of the images is significant. The central one, over the altar, is Melchizedek, the emphasis being on priesthood and the elements (just as in the reredos by William Goscombe John at St John the Baptist, Cardiff, where this typology is found again).  (ObjectID=3563 ImageID=3580) Original File Name=_MG_3122.jpg

Other works associated with this work

This artwork is indexed under the following main subject(s):
for other works containing these subjects please click on the links.

• the meeting of Abraham and Melchizedek, the high priest and king of Salem, who brings bread and wine  [Genesis 14:18-20]

Photo © Martin Crampin, Imaging the Bible in Wales