A GIANT image of Wales’s patron saint has appeared at St Davids Bishop’s Palace today (March 1) to celebrate St David’s Day.
The tribute to Saint David, or “Dewi Sant” in Welsh, is a land-art creation is made entirely from garden bark and more than 1,000 fresh daffodils.
Welsh artist and Britain’s Got Talent finalist, Nathan Wyburn, is the brain behind the portrait, commissioned by Cadw and crafted in just six hours and 12 minutes.
Nathan Wyburn said: “I am immensely proud to be Welsh and hope that the portrait will offer visitors an insightful taster into the stories behind St David’s Day and our patron saint.
“It’s one of the most colourful days of the year — a true celebration of Welshness that spreads far beyond Wales and I’m thrilled that I was invited to bring Saint David to the fore on this special, national day.”
Measuring 11m by 8m, the portrait is Nathan’s largest and most ambitious creation to date — complete with a bright and blooming daffodil halo.
The portrait even features a detailed depiction of Saint David’s iconic emblem, a white dove, which is said to have landed on his shoulder just moments before a miracle took place in ancient Ceredigion — whereby the ground beneath the saint rose up to form a hill, allowing huge crowds to hear his words of wisdom.
Located in the majestic central courtyard of St Davids Bishop’s Palace in Pembrokeshire, the modern portrait of this pre-medieval hero is a stone’s throw away from St Davids Cathedral, where Saint David was allegedly buried in 589 AD.
Minister for Culture, Tourism and Sport, Lord Elis-Thomas said: “A huge amount of work went into this commemorative depiction of Saint David, so Cadw is thrilled to be able to unveil it on our national day of celebration and hopes that it will inspire the public to discover Wales’s rich heritage this weekend and throughout the Year of Discovery.”
To catch a glimpse of the temporary portrait, visit the Bishop’s Palace in St Davids, Pembrokeshire.
St Davids Bishop’s Palace, as well as several other Cadw sites across Wales will open their doors for free on St David’s Day this year — allowing visitors across the country to explore and enjoy Wales’ rich heritage, completely free of charge.
For more information about Saint David or the Cadw sites open free of charge on St David’s Day this year, visit gov.wales/cadw, find Cadw on Facebook or follow @CadwWales on Twitter.
Who was St David?
David is said to have been born around the year 520. It was a time when Welsh kings ruled small kingdoms and their people made a living through farming. Most people in Wales were Christians, and monasteries were important centres of prayer and learning.
His birth is said to have taken place on the cliffs in a wild thunderstorm, near the city that is now named after him — St Davids.
A monk’s life
As a young man, David became a monk. Around the year 550, he is said to have founded a monastery close to the place where he was born.
Here, he and his fellow monks lived a simple life, drinking only water and eating only bread and herbs — meat and beer were forbidden. David became known as Dewi Dyfrwr (David the Waterdrinker).
The monks farmed the land, but David insisted that they pull the plough and carry their tools without the help of animals. They spent the evenings in prayer, reading and writing, and weren’t allowed any personal possessions.
Raising the dead and moving mountains
There are many stories of Saint David’s miracles. They include bringing a dead boy back to life by splashing the child’s face with tears, and restoring a blind man’s sight.
David’s best-known miracle allegedly took place in the village of Llanddewi Brefi.
He was preaching to a large crowd, but some people had difficulty hearing him.
Suddenly a white dove landed on David’s shoulder, and as it did, the ground on which he stood rose up to form a hill, making it possible for everyone to see and hear him.
Reputation spreads far and wide
Today, a church stands on the top of the famous hill in Llandewi Brefi.
The dove became Saint David’s emblem, and often appears on his portraits and stained glass windows.
Churches and chapels dedicated to David are found not just in Wales but also in south-west England and Brittany.
Saint David is believed to have died on March 1, 589 AD.
Five hundred years later, his first biography was written by Rhygyfarch of Llanbadarn. As his popularity grew, poems and songs were written about him.
The saint’s modern legacy — St David’s Day
On the March 1, people across Wales and beyond celebrate the life of Saint David with a variety of traditions and festivities.
Many mark the day by wearing a leek or a daffodil, the national emblems of Wales, or by displaying the flag of Saint David, which features a yellow cross on a black background.
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