Drawing by Ernest Tristram, reproduction of a sketch, made from a photograph, of a wall-painting in Breage Church in Cornwall, photo-lithograph, pen and ink and wash, Great Britain, early 20th century

Reproduction of a sketch, made from a photograph, of a wall-painting depicting Christ as Piers Plowman. Christ is depicted full length, crowned and semi naked, surrounded by tools of labour.

This is a reproduction of a sketch, made from a photograph, of a wall-painting in Breage Church in Cornwall dated ca. 1500.

The association of Christ with Piers Plowman comes from a theory presented by the artist himself. Tristram proposed that certain representations of the crucified Christ, preserved on the walls of English country churches, were inspired by William Langland’s poem ‘Piers Plowman.’ In these paintings the figure is surrounded by tools of labour that are arranged to form a halo or glory. This lead Tristram to assert that they were presenting an analogy linking Christ’s suffering and crucifixion to the life of the labourer. He suggests that this idea comes from Piers Plowman as the poem preaches salvation through labour. (Information from D'Evelyn, Charlotte. Piers Plowman in Art. Modern Language Notes. April 1919, vol. 34, No. 4.)

E.716-1928