Richly coloured oil, semi-abstracted Stations of the Cross in St Mary’s RC Church Manchester
Former President of the Royal Academy of Arts, Sir Philip Dowson writes:
“Norman Adams's Fourteen Stations of the Cross is one of the great ecclesiastical commissions in our country this century, and is an act of inspired patronage on the part of Canon Denis Clinch for St. Mary's, The Hidden Gem, Manchester. Norman Adams considered them to be the greatest work of his life and I believe this to be true.There is in these canvasses an expression of compassion intensely felt, which communicates immediately to people. Gentleness, terror, pain and suffering, within a frame of deep understanding and sympathy, distinguish these works. The events of the tragedy are told with the horror which leads from innocence to the Cross. It is a brave man who looks straight into the death mask in the crucifixion, or a man without feeling who would not be deeply moved by the tenderness of the laments in the Women of Jerusalem.
It is wonderful that these stations of the cross will have a permanent home in St Mary's Church, known as the "Hidden Gem" of Manchester. The Royal Academy is proud to have such a distinguished painter as a Member, and recognises the dedicated life-time's work and experience which lies behind this great achievement.”