She graduated from Oxford University as an honor student in literature in 1954 but taught herself the history of art from the hermits trailer where she lived on the grounds of a Carmelite monastery in Norfolk, England. As Catholics enter into Lent, a season that we mark by acts of both repentance and service, it is worth considering how we might move from alarm at antisemitism to action. She once observed: It is my apostolic duty to talk about art. She had acquired all the star trappings but a wardrobe adviser a publicist, an agent to negotiate fees and contracts, promotional interviews with Charlie Rose and Bill Moyers, and visits with dignitaries like Prime Minister John Major at 10 Downing Street and Pope John Paul II, who commended her for broadcasting a positive image of the church. Museum postcards and exhibition catalogs were her main research materials. In fact, she didnt actually see most works in person until she visited museums to film her lectures. Through this the two became good friends. "Bespectacled, bewimpled and with a decided lisp, the 67-year-old woman makes . Born in South Africa in 1930, and raised in Scotland, she joined the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur when she was just 17 years old. Why Netflix is dabbling in livestreaming, Before and after photos from space show storms effect on California reservoirs, Dramatic before and after photos from space show epic snow blanketing SoCal mountains, The chance of a lifetime: Five friends ski the tallest mountain in Los Angeles, Best coffee city in the world? I find myself saying to myself firmly that I might not have been interested or excited or challenged by what Ive seen, she said on a rare trip to London in 2008 to see an exhibition by those on the Turner Prize shortlist, but the artists who made these installations must have been. And when she did begin studying it, she did so all on her own, through books. Yet, this relationship between arts is not unidirectional. But far from it! Sister Wendys Story of Painting. Contemporary Women Artists, published in 1988, was followed by more books and articles. While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. By then, viewers were accustomed to her mischievous humor and unconventional views. In fact, anyone who has a narrow sense of their religion, whether theyre Jew or Christian or Muslim or whatever, has only to look long and intelligently at the great work of another tradition and they will see what the religions have in common. The piece caught the eye of a British Broadcasting Company (BBC) producer, and in 1992 Sister Wendys Odyssey made its debut. Critics pointed to her gapped teeth and her way of pronouncing r as if it were w. Her producers were more impressed by the pithy, ad-lib analyses she could fit neatly into a soundbite, a feat that won her a reputation as one-take Wendy., From the airing of her first series, Sister Wendys Odyssey, in 1992, she evaluated artworks as if the artist were standing beside her. Her later art-related works include Joy Lasts: On the Spiritual in Art (2006), Real Presence: In Search of the Earliest Icons (2010), and Sister Wendy on the Art of Mary (2013). Her most ambitious series, Sister Wendys Story of Painting, took her 30,000 miles through Europe, the Middle East and the United States, to survey works ranging from prehistoric cave paintings in France to the masterpieces of Picasso and the Pop Art of Andy Warhol. In 1999, Beckett visited the Los Angeles County Museum of Art for her series on U.S. museums, called Sister Wendys American Collection. By then, her videos were sold in bookstores and used in art appreciation classes. That is too final a word. She graduated from Oxford with high honors in English literature, and one of her original jobs in her monastery was translating Medieval Latin texts. Menu. Beckett is survived by her sister, Barbara. December 31, 2018. Omissions? She basically taught herself everything she knew about art, and then she taught it to lots of other people. "She was a hugely popular BBC presenter and will be fondly remembered by us all. Sister Wendy Beckett, the cloistered nun who ventured out of seclusion to become a celebrity art critic and historian, died Wednesday at Englands Carmelite Monastery Quidenham in Norfolk, according to the BBC. She in turn contributed most of her income to the convent. She didnt like Wendy. It made her think of Peter Pan.. Obituaries Section. Mobile Register and Baldwin County. I spend a lot of time looking at and reading about art, but I still came away with a new appreciation and perspective after watching videos like this one. As well as more shows, she now gained opportunities to be a published writer on specifically religious subjects, such as the saints, icons, and prayer. Climb the mountain. We never missed her in our house. [7] J. R. R. Tolkien was president of her final examinations board and asked her to stay on at the university, an invitation which she declined. Anyone can read what you share. She never liked her Catholic parents choice of name. She had a gift for storytelling and drama, as well as a clear passion for her subject matter. My profound appeal is that hell make it possible for me to live up to it. She lived here as a hermit, rising at midnight to pray, and giving seven hours each day to her devotions. She taught in Cape Town, South Africa, and Liverpool in northern England. In 1991, a BBC producer, Nicholas Rossiter, persuaded her to do a stand-up documentary about Britains National Gallery, talking about its paintings. Born in South Africa in 1930, she wanted to be a nun as a child, and joined the Sisters of Notre Dame, aged 16. Two other series on art, Sister Wendys Grand Tour (1994) and Sister Wendys Story of Painting (1997), appeared on the BBC and were soon shown throughout Europe. Sister Wendy Beckett passed away on Boxing Day 2018. We love art history and writing about it. The Carmelites offered her a home on their property and took care of her for the rest of her life. Dont think, fat little bloke, she said. . Even throughout her success, Beckett remained dedicated to the convent. The New York Times. Sister Wendy never sought a life in the spotlight. It was a magical moment of television, too. Its because of you that Im here today.. She was an effective and knowledgeable presenter, and people enjoyed her quirky style and insights. Heres what to know, From Chris Rock to the SAG Awards. Sister Wendy began stud Meet Sister Wendy. Socialites give up their cab for her.. She assigned all her earnings to a Carmelite order that had sheltered her for decades, and she attended Mass daily, even when traveling. Sister Wendy Beckett, the TV star and art historian, has died at the age of 88. When she was a child, her family moved to Edinburgh, Scotland, where her father attended medical school before they returned to South Africa. But audiences were captivated by her richly human tales, which brought art to life. Her unique style drew close to 4 million viewers, mesmerized by her billowing black robes and unpretentious observations. You have a cold heart.. In fact, being unusual might have even helped her. All rights reserved. Since youre a frequent reader of our website, we want to be able to share even more great, As a frequent reader of our website, you know how important, Sister Wendy Beckett meditates on Janet McKenzie's "The Holy Family", Cardinal Cupich: Critics of Pope Francis Latin Mass restrictions should listen to JPII, Cardinal McElroy on radical inclusion for L.G.B.T. She once said she persisted because she had a calling to talk about art in ways the average person could appreciate. Her own preferences among the current generation featured figurative and often religious painters such as Greg Tricker, Simon Garden and James Gillick. Despite her old-fashioned garb, her views on Catholicism were anything but traditional. Sister Wendy Beckett (1930 - 2018) was the unlikely star of art history documentary programs on the BBC. I think that her popular acclaim can inspire all of us at times when we feel like we dont fit the mold. Think young sumo wrestler.. He fell in love but he killed her.. Wondering why we ask for your email, or having trouble registering. She was sent to England where she completed her novitiate and then studied at St Anne's College, Oxford, where she was awarded a congratulatory first class honours degree[6] in English Literature. She was, the Church Times TV critic at that time, David Johnson, observed, an unself-conscious natural for television. Her father was a physician. She died at the Carmelite Monastery in Quidenham at the age of 88. Every contribution, however big or small, is very valuable for our future. In 2001 poor health and a desire to return to a life of solitude led Sister Wendy to announce that she was ending her BBC series. . [13], Beckett required medical treatment as an outpatient at a local hospital.[when?] In the 19th century, Europeans went crazy for one story: Atala, or the Story of Two Lovers in the Desert. A Brief History of the Salem Witch Trials. Mobile Register and Baldwin County Homepage. 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Returning to South Africa, she taught for 15 years at a Cape Town convent and later lectured at Johannesburgs University of Witwatersrand. However, she occasionally made television appearances, and Sister Wendy at the Norton Simon Museum, a TV movie commissioned by the Norton Simon Art Foundation, aired in 2002. Password reset instructions will be sent to your registered email address. PBS / WGBH Educational Foundation, 2001. But her unorthodox spiritual insights suggested otherwise. Time Magazine. God looked at his creation and said, It is good. In another interview she added, Theres too much puritanical fear of pleasure., She was fully aware that a woman of the cloth could scare some people off. Church Times 2023. Asked how she managed to read so many crime novels, Beckett had a quick answer. In the mid-1980s Sister Wendy, who had long been interested in art, began writing essays for British journals, using only postcards and books as her primary reference material. Afflicted by stress-induced epileptic fits, she returned to England and became a consecrated virgin, moving into a caravan in the grounds of the Carmelite convent at Quidenham, in Norfolk, and working on Latin translation. Sister Wendy died on December 26, 2018 at the age of 88. Sister Wendy Beckett (1930 - 2018) was the unlikely star of art history documentary programs on the BBC. The Most Memorable Contestants of 'American Idol': Where Are They Now? Still, she was spellbound by art: She read about it voraciously, and began writing about it. Sister Wendy. After suffering three grand mal seizures and learning that she had a form of epilepsy, she received Vatican consent to give up teaching for a life of solitude. Your Privacy Rights She also penned books that focused solely on religion, notably Sister Wendy on Prayer (2010) and Spiritual Letters (2013). Brigit Katz is a freelance writer based in Toronto. Beal sent it to her without charge. The programs like Sister Wendys Odyssey, Sister Wendys Grand Tour, and Sister Wendys Story of a Painting were immediate hits, often drawing a 25 percent share of the British viewing audience, according to The New York Times. Eventually, she decided to publish an art book to earn money for the convent. Some people who were mainly other art historians and public figures didnt appreciate her black habit, big teeth, or lack of formal art history training. Several years later, he moved to the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, and postcards from the Norfolk monastery arrived there. Her first book, Contemporary Women Artists, was published in 1988. Ive no time for gardening and letter-writing, the usual let-outs for those who are alone.. The Carmelite Monastery of Quidenham said Beckett died at the monastery Wednesday afternoon. In a 2000 interview with PBS, she explained her appreciation of non-Christian religious art: all great religions are great because theyre based upon the longings of the human heart. Smith also drove her around the country to meet the artists when Beckett was writing her book about contemporary women artists. Non-subscribers canreadfour articles for free each month. She died at the Carmelite Monastery in Quidenham at the age of 88. Beckett, Sister Wendy with Patricia Wright. SISTER Wendy Beckett, who died on 26 December, aged 88, had been a Religious, leading a solitary life for two decades before she accepted an invitation to appear in a BBC documentary about the National Gallery. In the 1990s she became one of the most unlikely television stars. Postcards from God: The Sister Wendy Musical, created by Marcus Reeves, ran briefly and camply in a small West End venue. Why am I being asked to create an account? She had a a unique presentation style, a deep knowledge of and passion for the arts, remembers Jonty Claypole, director of arts at the BBC, which broadcasted Sister Wendys programs. No one would dare write a book about how a husband and wife are to talk to each other, she commented in an interview (Features, 17 October 2007). Let Jesus give himself. Destructive 'Super Pigs' From Canada Threaten the Northern U.S. Did an Ancient Magnetic Field Reversal Cause Chaos for Life on Earth 42,000 Years Ago? Sign up and get your dose of art history delivered straight to your inbox! Although she hadnt appeared on television since the early 2000s, she was still a much-loved figure responsible for putting many people on the path of art appreciation. Dave Quinn is an Editor for PEOPLE, working across a number of verticals including the Entertainment, Lifestyle and News teams. As it so happened, her trip coincided with a . Search by Name. We ask our visitors to confirm their email to keep your account secure and make sure you're able to receive email from us. She studied literature at Oxford in the early 1950s, living in a convent and observing its strict code of silence for four years. She died at the Carmelite Monastery in Quidenham at the age of 88. I am prepared to marvel at their inexplicable enthusiasm.. Check out some of the. It is a novel by Ren de Chateaubriand Never miss DailyArt Magazine's stories. She was, by her own account, a frail girl. The Guardian. Art Critique. Please contact us at members@americamedia.org with any questions. With humour and a gift for storytelling, she brought life and drama to the work. Sister Wendy Beckett, (born February 25, 1930, Johannesburg, South Africadied December 26, 2018, East Harling, England), South African-born British nun who appeared on a series of popular television shows and wrote a number of books as an art critic. Her programmes included Odyssey, Sister Wendy's Grand Tour and Sister Wendy's Story of Painting. Low-profile art world family seeks personal assistant, NBCs Chicago series have strong showings but CBS wins weekly TV ratings race, Hunger Games star Jena Malone says someone I had worked with sexually assaulted her, Travis Barkers finger injury delays Blink-182 tour: One of those freak accidents. Sympathy Ideas . December 26, 2018. Advertising Notice Some art critics agreed, calling her amateurish. And Gods finger touches that of Man.. You can find a full list of her works here. According to the Guardians Aamna Mohdin, Sister Wendys father worried that she was too young to make such a commitment, but her mother supported the decision. Submit an Obituary. What Sister Wendy Beckett, the Late Nun and Popular Art Historian, Taught Me About Being a Curator She made me want to study art history. Her novelty may have also worn off for commissioners in Britain, for her subsequent attempt to return to our screens to present a short series on Orthodox icons, a great passion, failed to find a taker. Our editors will review what youve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. I will always be a nun. She had spent more than 20 years in a convent, perfecting the ways of religious life. Cookie Policy Privacy Statement Sister Wendy Beckett Obituary. In her honor, let's learn a few important things from Sister Wendy. Many are available at local libraries, and you can also see clips of her documentaries on YouTube. Her steel could also be glimpsed in relation to what she insisted was her own very minor celebrity. Her caravan in the grounds of the Carmel was small, cold and basic, but was crammed with postcards and calendars of works of art. Behind her gentle, toothy smile, though, Sister Wendy could be fierce. if you are trying to comment, you must log in or set up a new account. Pausing before the 16th century Italian painting Madonna and Child With Book, by Raphael, she zeroed in on the hefty baby Jesus. [12], Beckett was often effusively verbal in her descriptions of the human body in paintings, both male and female. Her father was a bank clerk who later changed careers to be a doctor. Following up in 1992, the BBC produced the six-part Sister Wendys Odyssey, with a wider focus on museums across England and Scotland. She spoke very comfortably and often highly of such works. Beckett's death was a huge loss for the art world. Frank Bruni, in The Times, said, The incongruity of such passionate and often sensuous statements coming from a hunched, bespectacled, 67-year-old nun is the secret to much of Sister Wendys charm and success.. A musical, Postcards from God: The Sister Wendy Musical, written by Marcus Reeves and Beccy Smith[31] was performed at the Jermyn Street Theatre in the West End in 2007 and Hackney Empire Studio Theatre in 2008. Standing before a double nude portrait by modern British painter Stanley Spencer, she observed, I love all those glistening strands of his hair. Her intense empathy for them may well have been fuelled by her own sense of being unwanted by God. Born Wendy Mary Beckett in Johannesburg, she moved as a child to Scotland, in 1946 joined the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur, a teaching order, and earned a degree in . Whether thats Eve or not, theres a human face there looking straight at Adam with the eyes daring him to respond to the challenge. All he can do is lift up a flaccid finger, and out of the clouds whirls down the God of Power. Aamna Mohdin. Beckett narrates the following documentaries: In 2006 she narrated an audio commentary for tourists to the Sistine Chapel at the Vatican: Additionally, she features in the following: As a television presenter, she is known for having had a rhotacism, a speech impediment which affected her pronunciation of Rs.[4][29][30]. At Oxford University, as a student in her early 20s, Beckett lived in a nuns hostel and soon after graduation moved back to South Africa to teach in a religious school. Sister Wendys American Collection. But persistent heart trouble and a history of epilepsy drained her strength. The series was a hit, and Sister Wendy, a habit-wearing consecrated virgin with a speech impediment, became the most unlikeliest of stars. As a devout Catholic and Consecrated Virgin, you might expect Sister Wendy to have been uncomfortable addressing works of art from other religions, nudes, and sexual subject matter. TV art historian and nun Sister Wendy Beckett has died at the age of 88, it has been announced. Traveling from museum to museum, filmed by the BBC, she shared her immense knowledge about painting and painters, her contemplative insights, and her unorthodox enthusiasm. Rapidly establishing herself as an unconventional and engaging commentator, fizzing with enthusiasm, she became a household name in the 1990s, in spite of the life of seclusion which she maintained between television recording sessions. She was a hit, a natural if eccentric personality with a gift for drama that made art accessible to the general public. Every effort has been announced were her main research materials 88, it has been made follow. 'S stories empathy for them may well have been fuelled by her billowing black and! Have even helped her a frail girl robes and unpretentious observations for her series on U.S.,... 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