Gilbert Sheldon

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Gilbert Sheldon

GILBERT SHELDON Archbishop of Canterbury (1663-1677). Built Sheldonian Theatre at Oxford

Mary Evans Picture Library makes available wonderful images created for people to enjoy over the centuries

Media ID 610445

© Mary Evans Picture Library 2015 - https://copyrighthub.org/s0/hub1/creation/maryevans/MaryEvansPictureID/10118222

1598 1663 1677 Archbishop Bones Canterbury Casket Gilbert Hour Glass Oxford Reclining Sheldon Sheldonian Skulls Tomb

EDITORS COMMENTS
This evocative image captures the reclined figure of the revered Archbishop of Canterbury, Gilbert Sheldon (1598-1677), as he lies in repose at his ornate tomb in the Sheldonian Theatre at the University of Oxford. The theatre, a masterpiece of English Baroque architecture, was built under Sheldon's tenure as Archbishop between 1663 and 1677. The intricately carved marble casket, topped with a skull and hourglass, serves as a poignant reminder of the transience of life and the inexorable passage of time. The hourglass, with its sands nearly spent, symbolizes the fleeting nature of human existence, while the skull, a common motif in funerary art, underscores the inevitability of mortality. Sheldon, dressed in his ecclesiastical robes, gazes serenely upwards, his hands folded in prayerful contemplation. His expression conveys a sense of peace and tranquility, as if he is at one with the eternal. The somber surroundings of the tomb, with its surrounding bones and skulls, serve to underscore the solemnity of the occasion. Born in 1598, Sheldon rose through the ranks of the Church of England to become Archbishop of Canterbury, a position he held until his death in 1677. During his time in office, he was instrumental in the restoration of the University of Oxford after the devastation wrought by the English Civil War. The Sheldonian Theatre, with its stunning architecture and rich history, stands as a testament to his vision and legacy. This photograph, taken at the Sheldonian Theatre in Oxford, offers a glimpse into the past, transporting us back to a time of grandeur and reverence, and inviting us to reflect on the enduring power of history and the passage of time.

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