This picture shows a view of the ceiling of the County Arcade in the Victoria Quarter of Leeds city centre.
The County Arcade is two storeys high with shops on the ground floor. The ceiling is vaulted with painted cast ironwork including 3 glass domes surounded by coloured and gilded mosaics depicting various figures.
The whole of the County Arcade demonstrates late Victorian art and craftsmanship of a very high standard. If you like Art Nouveau then the County Arcade is a place to look at and wonder. There are Italian pink marble columns, mosaics and Burmantofts faience. Burmantofts Pottery was the common trading name of a manufacturer of ceramic pipes and construction materials, named after the Burmantofts district of Leeds, England.
On the day I took this photograph of the interior of the County Arcade, Leeds a young artist was sitting on the floor with a watercolour pad and paints. The artist was painting the scene that appears in the above photo. The County Arcade really is worth time exploring as an example of what the victorians could achieve as art in peoples daily lives.
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Gorgeous!
ReplyDeleteThe shopping is great - but the arcade's even better. It's so colourful as well. I like how you've managed to get the floor and the dome in the same shot - clever.
ReplyDeleteI've lived in Leeds almost all my life but don't really like shopping and - - er - - hence have hardly noticed this arcade before - your photo and post are a bit of an eye-opener for me and I'll have a proper look next time I'm in town!
ReplyDeleteMagnificent place! Everyone must take a picture there I guess!
ReplyDeleteRE: today's posting - I have met up with a few local CDP bloggers and we had fun out on a "photo safari!" Cheers!