See more: To see the image this article refers to, keep checking Picture of the Day on our news blog Short Sharp Science
“I THINK as humans we’ve always looked into the heavens and the night sky,” says photographer David Stephenson. “I guess the ceilings have always been [about] looking up for that kind of spiritual enlightenment.”
Before taking his kaleidoscope-like photos of the interiors of domes, Stephenson, who lives in Tasmania, Australia, studied the architecture and history of the places of worship. He says he was struck by the fact that the structures were built to last for millennia, and in many cases have.
Domes can be constructed with circular layers, like ribs, that grow smaller as they reach the top, or with a series of arches. In a document published in 1675, architect Robert Hooke showed how the weight the arch supports must be evenly distributed. A huge amount of technical skill went into the construction of these buildings.
The dome of the Royal Church of San Lorenzo in Turin (bottom inset) was designed by the priest and mathematician Guarino Guarini in the 17th century. Its shape is octagonal, as eight is a symbolic number in Christianity, representing the endless day when Jesus was said to be resurrected.
“Even though they were built with a huge amount of attention to their liturgical function, you don’t have to understand much of that to have an experience with them as works of art,” says Stephenson. “One of the best things about Christianity is the art it’s produced. Even though they were built for a specific purpose they kind of transcend that.”