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TINTERN ABBEY

WALES

IMAGE NUMBER 1140

The Cistercian abbey of Tintern is one of the greatest monastic ruins of Wales. It was only the second Cistercian foundation in Britain, and the first in Wales. Buildings were added and updated in every century until its dissolution in 1536. During the 13th century the abbey was more or less completely rebuilt, starting in about 1220 with the cloisters and domestic ranges around them, and finishing with the great church. Tintern's crowning glory, its great church, was built between 1269 and 1301. It stands today much as it did then, apart from it's lack of a roof, window glass and internal divisions. Although not nearly as long as the great Cistercian abbey churches at Fountains and Rievaulx, its completeness makes it impressive. The abbey has served as a motif for English romantic art and poetry, including Wordsworth.

TECHNICAL NOTES

The image was taken with a hand-held Phase One 645XF Camera at ISO 200. Exposure of 1/200th of a second and an aperture of F8. Schneider Kreuznach 45 mm lens with leaf shutter. The image was captured on a Phase One IQ3 100 megapixel digital back.