On this page you will find paintings based on the music of Olivier Messiaen, specifically two of his organ sequences.
L’Ascension
The four paintings that follow each respond to a movement from Messiaen’s organ sequence, L’Ascension, a relatively early work when Messiaen was just beginning to develop his modes of limited transposition and to map them on to his synaesthesia.
Majesté du Christ demandant sa gloire a son pere
Acrylic and mixed media on canvas, 100x100cm
Alleluias sereins d’une ame qui desire le ciel
Acrylic and mixed media on canvas, 100x100cm
Transports de joie dun ame devant la gloire
Acrylic and mixed media on canvas, 100x100cm
Priere du Christ montant vers son pere
Acrylic and mixed media on canvas 100x100cm
La Nativité
The nine paintings that follow each responding to a movement from Messiaen’s great sequence for solo organ, La Nativité du Seigneur. This has been a joint project with Alexander Berry (Director of Music at GSM); it was his idea that we do a collaborative music and art project around the work. culminating in a devotional performance and exhibition on 14th December 2025, at Great St Mary’s. Cambridge. The paintings will be on display from noon, and the performance will be at 4pm. All are welcome.
If you would like to use these paintings, please contact me, so that I can send you the high resolution versions. Likewise, if you would like to enquire about the availability of prints, or even about the possibility of exhibiting the original artworks, please be in touch (though there are logistical challenges to this!).
You can read more about this project in in this article in the Church Times.
1 La Vierge et L’Enfant (the Virgin and child)
Acrylic and mixed media on canvas, 60x60cm
Conceived of a Virgin, unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given.
Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion: behold thy King cometh unto thee, just and lowly.
(Isaiah 9.5; Zechariah 9.9)
2 Les Bergers (the Shepherds)
Acrylic and mixed media on canvas, 100x30cm
And when they had seen the babe lying in a manger,
the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God.
(Luke 11:20)
3 Desseins Eternels (Eternal purposes)
Acrylic and mixed media on canvas, 60x60cm
God in his love has predestined us
to be his adopted sons through Jesus Christ,
to the praise of the glory of his grace.
(Ephesians 1:5-6)
4 Le Verbe (The Word)
Acrylic and mixed media on canvas, 60x60cm
The Lord hath said unto me, thou art my Son.
From his bosom I was begotten, before the daystar.
I am the image of the goodness of God,
I am the Word of Life, which was from the beginning.
Psalm 7; Wisdom 7.26; 1 John 1.1
5 Les Enfants de Dieu (the Children of God)
Acrylic and mixed media on canvas, 60x60cm
To those that have received him, the Word had given power to become children of God.
And God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into their hearts, crying ‘Abba, Father’.
(John 1.12; Galatians 4.6)
6 Les Anges (The Angels)
Acrylic and mixed media on canvas, 100x30cm
The heavenly host praised God, saying: Glory to God in the highest!
Luke 2:13
7 Jesus Accept la Souffrance (Jesus accepts suffering)
Acrylic and mixed media on canvas, 30x100cm
Wherefore when he cometh into the world, Christ saith to his Father:
In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin thou hast had no pleasure,
but a body hast thou prepared for me. Lo, I come!
Hebrews 10:5
8 Les Mages (The Magi)
Acrylic and mixed media on canvas, 100x30cm
The Wise men departed, and the star went before them.
(Matthew 2:9)
9 Dieu Parmi Nous (God among us)
Acrylic and mixed media on canvas, 150x100cm
Words of the communicant, of the Virgin, of the whole church:
He that created me has rested in my tabernacle,
the Word is made flesh and dwells in me.
My soul doth magnify the Lord,
and my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour.
(Ecclesiastes; John 1:14; Luke 1:46)
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