All Angels' Church Pulpit and Choir Rail 1900

Karl Theodore Bitter carved this 'All Angels' Church Pulpit and Choir Rail', of about 47 inches high, with stone. The relief structure presents a processional of figures carved into the pulpit and choir rail. The composition invites us to examine how the sculptor uses a singular horizontal plane to depict motion and congregation. Observe the frieze-like arrangement of the figures. The sculptor has meticulously detailed each form, yet maintains an overall unity through similar height and depth. This repetition creates a rhythmic pattern, a visual hymn echoing the liturgical purpose of the piece. Bitter's choice of stone is also significant. The material lends a sense of timelessness and permanence to the scene, reinforcing the enduring nature of religious faith. The texture of the stone, rough and unpolished, provides a tactile quality that contrasts with the smooth surfaces of the figures. This tension adds depth and complexity to the work. The figures blend and emerge from the stone, blurring boundaries of space and form.