st.albans cathedral

sir alfred gilbert's reredos behind the high altar, 1900-03, concept let down by abysmal workmanship. gilbert was very hit and miss, brilliant when on form, bloody awful when not. here much work was done by incompetent aides, and gilbert took his eye off the ball. the torso is fine, if somewhat homo-erotic for here, and the head doesn't fit. the angels are muddy, and hiding them behind the mother of pearl shells doesn't work. oh well, no one can be good all the time.