Fireback
1649 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
Object Type
This rectangular fireback dates from 1649. In order to protect the brickwork, slabs of cast iron like this one were placed on the wall at the back of the fireplace, where they also served to radiate heat into the room.
Subjects Depicted
The image of a snake rising from flames to bite an outstretched hand refers to a passage from the Bible (Acts 28: 3-6) which describes St Paul being shipwrecked on the island of Malta. On landing he lit a fire and as he did so a viper emerged from the flames and bit him. The people of Malta took this to mean that Paul was a murderer but when they saw that he was unhurt they realised that he must be holy.
Iconography
Fireback decoration often included stories involving fire, but sometimes there was also a political theme. As this example is dated 1649 the choice of subject matter may refer to the execution of Charles I. The same design appears in G. Whitney's A choice of Emblemes (Leyden, 1586) with the title 'If God be with us, who can be against us?', and with the following verse appended: 'His servauntes God preserves, thoughe they in danger fall: Even as from vipers deadlie bite, he kept th'Appostle Paule.'
This rectangular fireback dates from 1649. In order to protect the brickwork, slabs of cast iron like this one were placed on the wall at the back of the fireplace, where they also served to radiate heat into the room.
Subjects Depicted
The image of a snake rising from flames to bite an outstretched hand refers to a passage from the Bible (Acts 28: 3-6) which describes St Paul being shipwrecked on the island of Malta. On landing he lit a fire and as he did so a viper emerged from the flames and bit him. The people of Malta took this to mean that Paul was a murderer but when they saw that he was unhurt they realised that he must be holy.
Iconography
Fireback decoration often included stories involving fire, but sometimes there was also a political theme. As this example is dated 1649 the choice of subject matter may refer to the execution of Charles I. The same design appears in G. Whitney's A choice of Emblemes (Leyden, 1586) with the title 'If God be with us, who can be against us?', and with the following verse appended: 'His servauntes God preserves, thoughe they in danger fall: Even as from vipers deadlie bite, he kept th'Appostle Paule.'
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | Cast iron |
| Brief description | Fireback depicting story of St Paul and the snake, cast iron, England, 1649 |
| Physical description | Fireback made of cast iron, it shows the New Testament story of St Paul shaking a snake from his hand into the fire. The fireback is dated 1649 and features the initials IM. |
| Dimensions |
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| Gallery label |
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| Object history | The same initials, IM, also appear on M.113-1953. Indeed, these initials appear on several other different firebacks, including 492-1901 in the museum's collection (although they are illegible on that casting), which suggests that it is likely that they are those of the person who carved the wooden patterns from which the sand moulds were formed. |
| Historical context | The museum is grateful for images and information supplied by the researcher and author, Jeremy Hodgkinson FSA, 30 March 2022 |
| Production | Dated 1649 |
| Subject depicted | |
| Summary | Object Type This rectangular fireback dates from 1649. In order to protect the brickwork, slabs of cast iron like this one were placed on the wall at the back of the fireplace, where they also served to radiate heat into the room. Subjects Depicted The image of a snake rising from flames to bite an outstretched hand refers to a passage from the Bible (Acts 28: 3-6) which describes St Paul being shipwrecked on the island of Malta. On landing he lit a fire and as he did so a viper emerged from the flames and bit him. The people of Malta took this to mean that Paul was a murderer but when they saw that he was unhurt they realised that he must be holy. Iconography Fireback decoration often included stories involving fire, but sometimes there was also a political theme. As this example is dated 1649 the choice of subject matter may refer to the execution of Charles I. The same design appears in G. Whitney's A choice of Emblemes (Leyden, 1586) with the title 'If God be with us, who can be against us?', and with the following verse appended: 'His servauntes God preserves, thoughe they in danger fall: Even as from vipers deadlie bite, he kept th'Appostle Paule.' |
| Bibliographic references |
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| Collection | |
| Accession number | M.119-1984 |
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| Record created | March 27, 2003 |
| Record URL |
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