This Moment,See Beautiful: Frescoes

On September 15, 2016 we visited

St. Mary's Church, one of the two churches where you can see 
the most beautiful Fresco Paintings by Ben Long.

One of West Jefferson’s most visited attractions! The fresco paintings, housed in the Episcopal Parish of the Holy Communion, were created by North Carolina native Ben Long in 1974. Ben returned to the church in 2012 and touched up the paintings that were still in their original state. “Mary, Great with Child,” "John the Baptist," and “The Mystery of Faith” grace the sanctuary. Creations by Long’s students also line the walls of this early 20th century church. These paintings draw thousands of tourists each year in one of the most unique displays of artwork ever created. There is no charge to enter the church.

Definition of a Fresco

a painting done rapidly in watercolor on wet plaster on a wall or ceiling, so that the colors penetrate the plaster and become fixed as it dries.

fres·co

ˈfreskō/

noun

plural noun: frescoes

1. • the fresco method of painting, used in Roman times and by the great masters of the Italian Renaissance including Giotto, Masaccio, and Michelangelo.

   
   
2. Below you will find photos I took of the frescoes and the beautiful stained glass in St. Mary's Church.  No words are needed for the pictures...we hope you enjoy them as much as we did.

Frescoes

Mary Great with Child

John The Baptist

The Mystery of Faith

Click here  the two Churches, St. Mary's and  Holy Trinity Church.
This site tells you about each painting and about Ben Long the painter.

Stained Glass Windows in St. Mary's
I love glass of all kinds especially stained.  These were magnificent.  The sun was bright
the day we visited too

 close up of the window above...look at the butterfly
The details on each window were amazing. You can enlarge by clicking on the
photos

Click here  the two Churches with Fresco paintings in West Jefferson, St. Mary's and  Holy Trinity Church.
This site tells you about each painting and about Ben Long the painter.

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