Explore

The Martyrdom of St Thomas Becket

61_banner

This alabaster panel shows the moment when four knights murdered Archbishop Thomas Becket in Canterbury Cathedral, following misconstrued instructions from King Henry II. Panels such as this were destroyed during the Reformation and it is only due to their popularity across medieval Europe that so many examples survive today. The object offers a starting point for studying a range of aspects of the medieval period from the struggle between church and state to the nature and importance of religious devotion.


From

Probably made in Nottingham, England


Date

about AD 1450 – 1500


Culture

Medieval England


Material

alabaster


Dimensions

height: 37 cm
width: 25 cm


Museum

British Museum

(Please always check with the museum that the object is on display before travelling)

Next section: About the object