European Classic Church (Western Europe 6)
Reasons for selection: Landmarks and glory of the University of Cambridge.
The King's College Chapel at the University of Cambridge is a fine example of late medieval English post-Gothic architecture. Built in 1446–1515, the church was a Mass Chapel (1421–1471 AD) designed and ordered by the founder of King's College, Henry VI of England, and the last church building for royal patrons before the English Reformation. Today, King's College Chapel has become a landmark and a glory for the entire University of Cambridge.
King's College Chapel, University of Cambridge.
The University of Cambridge is located in the town of Cambridge in England and has a history of nearly 800 years, with 31 colleges spread across the streets of Cambridge town.
Location of the University of Cambridge.
King's College Chapel is a landmark building throughout Cambridge University, and when introducing Cambridge University, it is often represented by King's College Chapel.
King's College.
Statue of King Henry VI of England, founder of King's College.
Henry VI, the last king of the Lancastrian dynasty of England, was created by Shakespeare for the play Henry VI (1623) due to his own weakness.
The chapel can be seen outside the walls of King's College.
Henry VIII of the Tudor dynasty (1491–1547) was the final builder of the chapel.
The gates of King's College.
On the walls are the National Flower of England rose (ancient European rose) and royal coat of arms.
The main entrance to the King's College Chapel.
Glass window flowers depict the story of the Bible.
The front hall is separated from the choir and is decorated with angelic organs.
Roses, crowns, greyhounds, welsh dragons on both sides of the gate are characteristic of the Tudor era.
Choir seats.
The King's College Chapel Choir was established in 1441 when Henry VI ordered the construction of the Chapel. Henry VI asked for Six Ordinary Believers and 16 "elegantly and modestly mannered" boys to sing Mass every day in the Chapel of King's College, which they have been singing for nearly 580 years. The Mass Concert held here every Christmas is broadcast by the BBC and is one of the world-renowned Christmas concerts.
Originally an altarpiece was placed with a painting of Rubens.
The King's College Christmas Night Concert is said to have had 190 million listeners, not counting the 1,500 lucky people in the Chapel. For Britons, listening to the "hymns of King's College" is an essential traditional programme for Christmas celebrations.
Rubens' "Magi Come to the Court" painting in the chapel.
The Chapel of the King's College has an oil painting of the "Magi Coming to the Dynasty" painted by the Flemish painter Petro Paulo Rubens (1577-1640 AD) for the Belgian Convent of the White Nuns in 1634, depicting the biblical pilgrimage of the Holy Child by the "Three Wise Men of the East". The painting was later acquired by the Earl of Westminster and broke the auction record at the time in 1959 for a whopping 3 million marks, and its new owner donated it to King's College. However, because the painting is larger and occupies the altar position, it has caused great controversy.
Statue of Rubens on the square of The Cathedral of Our Lady of Antwerp, Belgium.
Born in Germany, Peter Paul Rubens (1577–1640) was one of the four most prominent painters in Europe: Caravaggio of Italy, Rubens of Flanders, Rembrandt of the Netherlands and Velázquez of Spain.
The next article will introduce the Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris, France.