St. Michael’s of Charleston ~ An architectural masterpiece!
St. Michael’s of Charleston by William R. Beebe, 40 x 40 Oil on canvas, $14,500
Every time I walk by St. Michael’s Church in Charleston, I marvel at what an architectural masterpiece it is. My mind can’t comprehend that it was built over 250 years ago, completed and opened for service in 1761! It is the oldest surviving religious structure in all of Charleston and is a National Historic Landmark located at the corner of Meeting and Broad Street.
As the horse and carriage rides travel past the intersection known as the Four Corners of Law, one can overhear the carriage drivers educating their passengers about significant historic moments in Charleston that took place at this location. President George Washington attended a service in St. Michael’s Church back on May 8, 1791. 70 years later General Robert E. Lee also worshipped at the church.
St. Michael’s of Charleston by William R. Beebe, detail shot
The steeple stands 186 feet high! The weather vane is 7 1/2 feet wide! Inside the steeple there are steps all the way up to the top where one can look out of the peek holes, which was utilized during the Revolutionary War.
St. Michael’s of Charleston, steeple detail shot
Amazingly, the architect is unknown! How could that be? How could something so magnificent be created without any record of its creator?
As an artist I was somewhat intimidated to take on painting St. Michael’s Church because of the many intricate architectural elements all in white. Knowing that it would be hard to get all of the detail into a small painting, I decided to go large, 40”x40”. Even then I decided to keep it somewhat Impressionistic so that I didn’t get mired down with trying to make it too “architectural”.
Sunlight was streaming down Broad Street lighting up the steeple and casting dark shadows across Meeting Street. The horse and carriage in the distance is heading down Meeting Street toward the Battery and the neighborhood famously known as South of Broad. The carriage in the foreground is heading past the Mill’s House and into the French Quarter. This is all a very scenic and historic area that can also be traveled easily on foot.
St. Michael’s of Charleston, detail shot
Palm trees line Meeting Street, American flags fly atop historic buildings, and one gets the sense that they’ve stepped back in time.
St. Michael’s Church is an iconic landmark in Charleston. Like St. Philip’s Church, it can be seen from many vantage points towering over buildings and treetops. I love that the city of Charleston has so many church steeples and spires as landmarks, helping to guide people from away to their destinations.
I hope you like my painting entitled St. Michael’s of Charleston. It was challenging to paint but also a joy. Thank you for reading my blog and for your interest in my work.
I’m not sure what will be on my easel next, but I’m leaning toward a Lowcountry marsh scene. Have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!!!