St Kevin and the Blackbird Exhibition

Description

This exhibition spans the period 2025-26 and follows John Rattigan’s Nativity themed exhibition held at Derby Cathedral in 2025. It comprises of 15 painting on the theme of St Kevin & the Blackbird.

The story of St Kevin & the Blackbird is an Irish legend about the sixth century Saint who, during lent as he was praying with his arms out stretched, a blackbird settled in his palm, built a nest, and laid its eggs. He remained motionless for weeks, holding his hand steady through sun and rain, until the fledglings were old enough to fly away. The story is often interpreted as an act of profound selflessness, compassion and connection to nature.

John says he had read the poem of the same title by Seamus Heaney and thought there was something outlandish yet touching about this tale that allowed him to add humorous touches and to capture a variety of this saints moods, from perplexed to bemused to exhausted.