LUX IN TENEBRIS

THE MYSTERY OF THE BAS RELIEF

After the School moved from Rye Hill to Eskdale Terrace in 1906, the Bas Relief, now on enhanced view in the newest building of the school and recently cleaned, continues to pose a mystery to all those who take notice of its presence (NB, not everybody). It seems to have been so since it appeared, at one time on the outer wall facing North, before the erection of the Sutherland Baths in 1930.

Ashort note in the June 1908 NOVO proves this to be the case and well over a century later, it would be a triumph to solve this anomaly in the School’s long history.

Can anyone help? A framed photograph of this artwork will be awarded to the reader who can solve this puzzle.

NOVO June 1908

It will, perhaps, have been observed that there is, built into the end wall of∞the Science Block, a perfect masterpiece of exquisite stonecarving. This, we are assured, is a faithful copy of the original, which was∞at one time in the Royal Academy, and is regarded as one of the finest specimens of its kind. One could not doubt this, on close examination; for the true artistic moulding, the delicate naturalness of the extended arm of the central figure is worthy of none less than a Michael Angelo (sic). Particularly, however, is tobe commended the ingenuity of the artist in his choice of mystical signs. Besides several names of scientists, there is the dark expression :— “Lux in tenebris.” Now, what light these throw upon the meaning of the sculpture is, as far as we know at present, beyond the understanding of all.

Can anyone solve the mystery?

The bas-relief outside the science block in the 1950s, taken from the Central High School