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Design for a fresco for the children’s chapel in St James’ Church 1929

By Ethel Anderson

The Children’s Chapel, or Chapel of St Mary and the Angels, is located in the crypt of St James Church on King Street, Sydney. Converted into a small chapel in 1929, the Turramurra Wall Painters Union, a group of amateur artists led by Ethel Anderson, were invited to decorate the walls. Their mural was based on the English carol I Saw Three Ships, transferred to a Sydney Harbour setting. 

Photographs by Harold Cazneaux were used to depict details of harbour landmarks and scenes, and the artists used the faces of family and friends as models.

This image of the Madonna and child, holding a toy sailing boat, shows the generous use of gold to mimic the richness of medieval illuminated manuscripts.

Collection Item Type:
Oil on canvas
Call Number:
ML 1078
Published date:
1929
On display:
Exhibition Galleries
Copyright Information:

Copyright status: In copyright - Life of artist plus 70 years

Copyright holder: Not known

Approval for reproduction required

Please acknowledge: Mitchell Library, State Library of New South Wales and Courtesy copyright holder

Display Location:
Exhibition Galleries

Historical Dates

Started Tuesday, 1 January 1929
Finished Tuesday, 31 December 1929
Started Tuesday, 1 January 1929
Finished Tuesday, 31 December 1929
Started Tuesday, 1 January 1929
Finished Tuesday, 31 December 1929