Thomas A Becket Collection

Plate 11 for History of the Middle Ages, 1793. Creators: Daniel Nikolaus Chodowiecki, Eberhard Siegfried Henne
Plate 11 for History of the Middle Ages, 1793

Group of Silver and Porcelain Rarities from the Sibthorp Collection, 1856. Creator: J. & A.W
Group of Silver and Porcelain Rarities from the Sibthorp Collection, 1856. In the centre is a crystal cup, fitted into a silver frame and stand...On the left of this is a very handsome vase

Canterbury Tales - The Friar
The Friar, a character in " The Canterbury Tales", a collection of stories written by Geoffrey Chaucer at the end of the 14th century

Canterbury Tales - The Prioress
The Prioress, a character in " The Canterbury Tales", a collection of stories written by Geoffrey Chaucer at the end of the 14th century

Canterbury Tales - The Merchant
The Merchant, a character in " The Canterbury Tales", a collection of stories written by Geoffrey Chaucer at the end of the 14th century

Canterbury Tales - The Summoner
The Summoner - who appears to be delivering a summons from an ecclesiastical court - a character in " The Canterbury Tales"

Canterbury Tales - Geoffrey Chaucer as a pilgrim on horseback
Geoffrey Chaucer depicted as a pilgrim on horseback. He was the writer of " The Canterbury Tales", a collection of stories written at the end of the 14th century

King Henry II doing penance at the tomb of Thomas a Becket, Canterbury Cathedral
King Henry II (1133-1189) doing penance at the tomb of Thomas a Becket. Henry ruled as King of England from 1154 to 1189. He was the first Plantagenet (or Angevin) King

Penance of King Henry II
Vintage engraving of the Penance of King Henry II before the shrine of Thomas a Becket

Canterbury Tales - The Parson
The Parson, a character in " The Canterbury Tales", a collection of stories written by Geoffrey Chaucer at the end of the 14th century

Canterbury Tales - The Monk and his Greyhounds
The Monk (with his greyhounds), a character in " The Canterbury Tales", a collection of stories written by Geoffrey Chaucer at the end of the 14th century

Canterbury Tales - The Second Nun
The Second Nun, a character in " The Canterbury Tales", a collection of stories written by Geoffrey Chaucer at the end of the 14th century

Canterbury Tales - The Sergeant-at-Law
The Sergeant-at-Law, a character in " The Canterbury Tales", a collection of stories written by Geoffrey Chaucer at the end of the 14th century

Canterbury Tales - The Knight
The Knight, a character in " The Canterbury Tales", a collection of stories written by Geoffrey Chaucer at the end of the 14th century

Canterbury Tales - The Franklin
The Franklin, a character in " The Canterbury Tales", a collection of stories written by Geoffrey Chaucer at the end of the 14th century

Canterbury Tales - The Shipman
The Shipman, a character in " The Canterbury Tales", a collection of stories written by Geoffrey Chaucer at the end of the 14th century

Canterbury Tales - The Pardoner
The Pardoner, a character in " The Canterbury Tales", a collection of stories written by Geoffrey Chaucer at the end of the 14th century

Canterbury Tales - The Manciple
The Manciple, a character in " The Canterbury Tales", a collection of stories written by Geoffrey Chaucer at the end of the 14th century

Canterbury Tales - The Nuns Priest
The Nuns Priest, a character in " The Canterbury Tales", a collection of stories written by Geoffrey Chaucer at the end of the 14th century

Canterbury Tales - The Squire
The Squire, a character in " The Canterbury Tales", a collection of stories written by Geoffrey Chaucer at the end of the 14th century

Canterbury Tales - The Clerk
The Clerk, a character in " The Canterbury Tales", a collection of stories written by Geoffrey Chaucer at the end of the 14th century

Canterbury Tales - The Reeve
The Reeve, a character in " The Canterbury Tales", a collection of stories written by Geoffrey Chaucer at the end of the 14th century

Canterbury Tales - The Wife of Bath
The Wife of Bath, a character in " The Canterbury Tales", a collection of stories written by Geoffrey Chaucer at the end of the 14th century

Henry Irving as "Becket", c. 1893. Creator: Henry Herschel Hay Cameron
Henry Irving as " Becket", c. 1893. British actor Henry Irving as archbishop and saint Thomas a Becket]. Photogravure

The legend of the Coronation Oil and the Ampulla, The Virgin appearing to Thomas A Becket (colour litho)
5236278 The legend of the Coronation Oil and the Ampulla, The Virgin appearing to Thomas A Becket (colour litho) by Cuneo

Death of a Becket (engraving)
6020486 Death of a Becket (engraving) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Death of a Becket)

Ancient Cup, said to have belonged to Thomas A Becket (engraving)
2811263 Ancient Cup, said to have belonged to Thomas A Becket (engraving) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Ancient Cup, said to have belonged to Thomas A Becket)

Becket washing the feet of beggars (engraving)
2792898 Becket washing the feet of beggars (engraving) by Margetson, William Henry (1861-1940) (after); Private Collection; (add.info.: Becket washing the feet of beggars)

Relics associated with Thomas A Becket (engraving)
666269 Relics associated with Thomas A Becket (engraving) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Relics associated with Thomas A Becket)

Beckets procession through France, 1158, illustration from Hutchinson
STC293144 Beckets procession through France, 1158, illustration from Hutchinsons Story of the British Nation, c.1923 (litho) by Woodville

The Becket difficulty still kept Henry awake at night (engraving)
1090802 The Becket difficulty still kept Henry awake at night (engraving) by American School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: The Becket difficulty still kept Henry awake at night)

Thomas Becket forbids the Earl of Leicester to pass sentence on him, 1162
984741 Thomas Becket forbids the Earl of Leicester to pass sentence on him, 1162, from A Chronicle of England BC 55 to AD 1485, pub

Oxford, Christchurch Cathedral, Lucy Chapel (b / w photo)
5986765 Oxford, Christchurch Cathedral, Lucy Chapel (b/w photo) by English Photographer, (20th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Oxford, Christchurch Cathedral, Lucy Chapel)

Thomas Beckets palace, Tarring (b / w photo)
3642750 Thomas Beckets palace, Tarring (b/w photo) by English Photographer, (20th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Thomas Beckets palace, Tarring)

Henry II scourged by the priests at Canterbury
LLM456088 Henry II scourged by the priests at Canterbury by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Henry II scourged by the priests at Canterbury)

The Legend of the Coronation Oil, from The Illustrated London News
1772339 The Legend of the Coronation Oil, from The Illustrated London News, 1910 (colour litho) by Cuneo, Cyrus (1879-1916); Private Collection; (add.info)

The Legend of the Coronation Oil (litho)
1629402 The Legend of the Coronation Oil (litho) by Amato, G.S. (fl.1897-1914) (after); Private Collection; (add.info.: The Legend of the Coronation Oil)

Exhibition of the Royal Academy (engraving)
1601780 Exhibition of the Royal Academy (engraving) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Exhibition of the Royal Academy)

Henry walking to the Tomb of Becket (engraving)
1090801 Henry walking to the Tomb of Becket (engraving) by American School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Henry walking to the Tomb of Becket)

"Who will rid me of this turbulent priest?", c. 1950 (litho)
1122703 " Who will rid me of this turbulent priest?", c.1950 (litho) by Valda, John Harris (d.1941); Private Collection; (add.info)

Life of Thomas Becket (coloured engraving)
2797171 Life of Thomas Becket (coloured engraving) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Life of Thomas Becket)

Wine Merchants in London (engraving)
1619933 Wine Merchants in London (engraving) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Wine Merchants in London)

Canterbury Tales - The Miller
The Miller, a character in " The Canterbury Tales", a collection of stories written by Geoffrey Chaucer at the end of the 14th century

Canterbury Tales - The Canons Yeoman
The Canons Yeoman, a character in " The Canterbury Tales", a collection of stories written by Geoffrey Chaucer at the end of the 14th century

Canterbury Tales - Geoffrey Chaucer
Geoffrey Chaucer, writer of " The Canterbury Tales", a collection of stories written at the end of the 14th century

Canterbury Tales - The Cook
The Cook, a character in " The Canterbury Tales", a collection of stories written by Geoffrey Chaucer at the end of the 14th century

The Cathedral from the South-West, 1898. Creator: Unknown
The Cathedral from the South-West, 1898. Canterbury Cathedral was and largely rebuilt in Gothic style following a fire in 1174 with extensions to accommodate the flow of pilgrims visiting the shrine

Henry Irving and Ellen Terry in Tennysons Becket at Windsor Castle, 1893, (1901)
Henry Irving and Ellen Terry in Tennysons " Becket" at Windsor Castle, 1893, (1901). Actors Henry Irving (as Thomas Becket) and Ellen Terry (as Rosamund)

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"Thomas a Becket: A Martyr's Tale of Power and Redemption" In the Canterbury Tales, Chaucer immortalized Thomas a Becket, the Archbishop of Canterbury who met a tragic end. Known for his unwavering devotion to God and his refusal to bow down to King Henry II's demands, Becket became an iconic figure in English history. The Prioress tells her tale, highlighting the compassion and piety that defined Becket's character. His commitment to justice resonated with many pilgrims on their journey to Canterbury Cathedral. King Henry II himself was deeply remorseful after ordering Becket's murder. In an act of penance, he sought forgiveness at the tomb of this revered martyr within the hallowed walls of Canterbury Cathedral. The image of him kneeling before Becket's final resting place is etched into history. Chaucer also introduces us to other characters along this pilgrimage; The Friar, whose actions contrasted sharply with Becket’s selflessness; The Monk and his Greyhounds, representing worldly pleasures versus spiritual devotion; The Manciple and The Summoner embodying corruption within religious institutions; The Reeve showcasing cunning intellect; and finally, The Wife of Bath challenging societal norms through her boldness. Geoffrey Chaucer himself appears as a pilgrim on horseback amidst these tales. His presence signifies how deeply ingrained Thomas a Becket had become in English culture by then - inspiring writers like Chaucer to weave narratives around him. But it is the haunting engraving depicting the murder itself that captures our attention most vividly. Within those cathedral walls in 1170, darkness descended as four knights struck down Thomas a Becket while he knelt in prayer – forever cementing his status as a martyr for faith and independence from royal interference. Thomas a Becket's legacy lives on through literature and historical accounts alike. He remains an enduring symbol of courage, sacrifice, and the unwavering pursuit of justice.