3-053-466 - The Print Collector/Heritage Images

The Artists' Corner in the Crypt of St. Paul's [in London]: the grave of Landseer, 1873. 'The funeral of this eminent artist...took place on Saturday...St. Paul's Cathedral...had filled with people, all dressed in black, long before twelve o'clock. The choir was thronged with the painter's personal friends, but the crowd was great under the dome and all the way to the great west doors, which stood wide open...A long double line of Academicians and Associates, clad in heavy scarves and weepers, followed the mourners of Sir Edwin Landseer's family...The closing of the great west doors sent a shade through the cathedral, and, while the organ pealed, the flower-laden coffin was set down on the bier before the altar-steps, where a grave-like aperture, descending to the crypt, had been lined and surrounded with black cloth...a verger with a crape-wrapped mace throwing the usual three handfuls of earth at the words, "Earth to earth, ashes to ashes, dust to dust"..."I heard a voice from heaven," was taken up by the organ and choir. The prayers and collects followed, and...Bishop Claughton gave the blessing. The service was over, but for some time the organ played, rolling through the cathedral the wailing music of the Dead March in "Saul".' From "Illustrated London News", 1873.