Legendary rocker to open Cathedral exhibition
Mr Page OBE, the former Led Zeppelin guitarist, is a huge fan of English architect William Burges.
The Cathedral is regarded as Burges’s first masterpiece.
Page, who along with Zeppelin frontman Robert Plant sold millions of records like Whole Lotta Love and Stairway to Heaven, will open the exhibition, entitled Conserving the Dream, in Cork’s public museum on October 6.
Dean of St Fin Barre’s, Rev Michael Burrows, said it would be the Cathedral’s most significant contribution to the city’s year as European Capital of Culture.
Examples of recently restored documents, stained glass window cartoons and plaster working models from the Cathedral will be on view. “These documents and models are examples of the remarkable archival richness of the treasures of St Fin Barre’s,” he said.
“It is thanks to the generosity of a benefactor it has been possible to restore these examples for exhibition and also a foretaste of what could be put on view if further restoration were to be done.”
Burges was appointed architect to build a new Cathedral in 1862 after a competition.
Its foundation stone was laid in 1865 and the building was consecrated in 1870 but the landmark towers and spires were not completed until 1879.
It’s built of Cork limestone and a Bath stone interior. The walls are lined with red Cork marble.
Burges drew up an overall iconographic scheme for the Cathedral windows, and maintained control over all the stages of the work - experts say this is why the Cathedral preserves a remarkable unity of style
He also designed all the sculpture, mosaics, furniture and metalwork.
There are about 1,260 pieces of sculpture alone in the Cathedral.
The Resurrection Angel on the pinnacle of the sanctuary roof was a gift from Burges.
Burges also designed a church in Crosshaven and an addition to the church at Carrigrohane.
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