Henry II had no idea of the intensity of the response to his fateful muttering “What miserable drones and traitors have I nourished and promoted in my household, who let their lord be treated with such shameful contempt by a low-born clerk! ” or the legendary “Who will rid me of this turbulent priest?”. The fatal attack on Thomas Becket, archbishop of Canterbury, by four aristocratic knights loyal to Henry II, was led by Reginald Fitzurse on December 29. Fitzurse struck the fatal blow, slicing off the top of the archbishop’s head. With amazing speed, following the event, miracles were reported and biographies written; news spread to the continent; crusaders carried stories to the East. Pilgrims flocked to Canterbury; Chaucer wrote about them. Images of Becket, including many of his martyrdom, appeared in all media, in many parts of the world within a remarkably brief time. He appears in a mosaic in Monreale that is dated c. 1180, a font in far away Gotland, Sweden dated from the end of 12th-beginning of 13th centuries, liturgical objects, manuscripts, and numerous Limoges enamel caskets (boxes) containing relics of Becket. The details vary: Becket may or may not be wearing a miter; he may appear in simple monastic garb or vestments for celebrating Mass; the altar near the site of the slaying is occasionally set for Mass, other times it is bare; the assassins may be cutting off his head, stabbing him in the head or even the back. Most common are the scenes depicting the top of his head sliced off. Shown here are a few of the 47 portraits of Becket and the 100 scenes of his martyrdom described in the Index of Christian Art.
Posted on: Mon, 29 Dec 2014 13:26:23 +0000
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