Mussenden Temple

Mussenden Temple is painted on acrylic on A4 paper.  This painting is presented in a mount and cellophane wrap.

A familiar scene for any north coast of Ireland visitor. Greens and blues showing the surrounding area and clear skies. Flashes of white display the fluffy clouds and we can almost feel the warmth and the wind on our cheeks.

A stunning piece of Mussenden Temple would hold space on any wall.

A great gift for art lovers.

All original artwork is shipped free of charge.

Personalised gift notes can be added at checkout.

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The inspiration behind the painting

‘Mayim’ the Hebrew name for water. 

My ‘Mayim’ exhibition was a virtual exhibition that consisted of a live stream while I sat in formal attire in front of my laptop talking my audience through the various paintings. Lockdown and coronavirus meant that even the artists had to adapt!

The paintings and the exhibition were inspired by my love of water. Water and waves at the beach, water in the lakes and waterfalls in the North and South of Ireland. I trust that you enjoy the brush or palette marks of each scene.

Mayim prices starting from £159

About the location

Mussenden Temple is a small circular building located on cliffs near Castlerock in County Londonderry, high above the Atlantic Ocean on the north-western coast of Northern Ireland.

Perched on the cliffs overlooking Downhill Strand, it was once possible to drive a carriage around the temple: however, coastal erosion has brought the edge closer to the building. The temple was built in 1785 and forms part of the Downhill Demesne. The demesne was formerly part of the estate of Frederick, 4th Earl of Bristol, who served as the Church of Ireland Lord Bishop of Derry from 1768 until 1803. It was Lord Bristol – popularly known as “the Earl-Bishop” – who had the “temple” built. Constructed as a library and modelled from the Temple of Vesta in the Forum Romanum in Rome, it is dedicated to the memory of Bishop Lord Bristol’s cousin Frideswide Mussenden.

Over the years the erosion of the cliff face at Downhill has brought Mussenden Temple ever closer to the edge, and in 1997 The National Trust carried out cliff stabilisation work to prevent the loss of the building.

The inscription around the building reads:

“Suave, mari magno turbantibus aequora ventis
e terra magnum alterius spectare laborem.”
“Tis pleasant, safely to behold from shore
The troubled sailor, and hear the tempests roar.”

The quotation is from Lucretius, De Rerum Natura, 2.1–2.

Named in honour of his niece, whom he referred to as his “cher cousin”, Mrs. Frideswide Mussenden, whose beauty he greatly admired, this was the Bishop’s library. Its walls were once lined with bookcases. A fire was kept burning constantly in the basement. This and its enclosed flue meant that, even in this very exposed location, the books never got damp.

About Aly

Aly is a Northern Irish based Artist, Writer and Educator.  One of Northern Ireland’s top artists, widely known for her Belfast prints and impressionist techniques. She has several accolades to her name, most recently:

> Nominated 40 under 40

> Listed as top 100 / Small Business Saturday

> Finalist in the East Side Awards

Aly works from a studio near Belfast which is conducive to her family life with her husband and their three young boys.

She is passionate about placing importance on everyday moments, objects and places in her oil paintings and pastel work.This is one of the many reasons Aly is a well established artist in Belfast, Northern Ireland and the United States of America.

Her practice is influenced heavily by her own childhood memories of growing up in a smallholding in the Irish countryside.

Themes of the familiar and familial can be traced back as far as her degree show in 2003 when her installation “Daddy’s bread” used 795 empty bread bags (of her father’s favourite loaf) to represent each week from when her Father passed until the opening of her final exhibition.

Aly was awarded a first class honours degree and a distinction in her Masters in Fine Art which she completed following her degree. Specializing in Acrylic, oil and Mixed Media Aly has a love for creating stunning vibrant paintings.  Along with a love of monochrome and simple sketches.

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And don’t forget to check out my BLOG

Here is a place where you can find recipes, information on physical wellbeing, travel and home ideas as well as life ramblings.

I use art in all it’s mediums to express my love for the “everyday”. Coffee cups, familiar landmarks, colour associations. All of these, I believe, contribute to what is known as our “everyday”. Not only do I love drawing them, I think they are worth placing importance on.

This blog is an extension of my creativity.

I convey a realistic (the good, the bad, the funny, the sad) view into the life of a family woman, a homemaker and a business woman on a journey of physical and mental wellness.

Have fun navigating the site and don’t hesitate to send me a note if you want to know more.

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All images are copyright @alyharte     

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