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Primary sourcePaintinglate 12th century

Wall Painting of St Thomas Becket Shortly Before His Murder

late 12th century

A late 12th-century wall painting showing Becket shortly before his murder in 1170, made close to the time of his death.

A near-contemporary painted image of Becket made soon after his death, showing him shortly before his murder.

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Faded medieval wall painting on a whitewashed curved arched wall, showing remnants of a robed figure in red and dark tones with a draped garment, partly lost to plaster loss. Stone surround visible at edges.
St Thomas Becket shortly before his murder, wall painting, late 12th century. Photograph by Richard Croft, 2008.

About this source

What it is

This is a wall painting dating from the late twelfth century, close in time to Thomas Becket's death. It shows Becket shortly before his murder in Canterbury Cathedral on 29 December 1170. The painting was rediscovered in 1865 and has faded significantly since then; much of the original plaster has been lost.

Why it matters

Because it was made so soon after Becket's murder, this painting is a rare near-contemporary image of the archbishop, created while memories of the event and the shock it caused were still fresh. It shows how quickly Becket became a subject for religious art, reflecting the speed with which his cult as a martyr and saint developed.

Look closer

  • What details can you still make out in the faded painting, and what has been lost over time?
  • Why might an artist working so close to Becket's death have chosen to paint him just before the murder, rather than the murder itself?
  • What does the painting's survival and rediscovery in 1865 tell you about how historical images can be lost and found again?

This painting is part of the curated material that grounds the AI version of Thomas Becket on Humy.ai — when students ask about related events, the AI can quote it and cite it.

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Document

Primary source

Constitutions of Clarendon

Henry II of England · 1164

Exterior view of Canterbury Cathedral under a clear blue sky. A tall Gothic central tower with pinnacles rises above the stone nave and side chapels, with large pointed windows and a sloping roof visible. Grass lies in the foreground.Artifact

Primary source

Canterbury Cathedral

founded 597

A rectangular gilt copper reliquary casket with blue champlevé enamel, set with oval glass gems along its lid and four feet. Front panels show gilded figures in scenes, including a bishop-like figure at an altar with a chalice, and an upper scene of a tomb or bier with mourners.Artifact

Secondary source

Becket Casket

c. 1180-1190

A large semicircular textile, likely a chasuble, displayed flat in a curved glass case mounted on a white wall. Its faded beige fabric has repeating circular medallions containing small figures and patterns, with a vertical band down the center. Lights run along the top of the case.Artifact

Secondary source

Fermo Chasuble of St. Thomas Becket

12th century

Display case in a museum showing a pale cream silk liturgical robe with gold-embroidered borders on a mannequin, a pair of cream shoes, two long red-edged gold-patterned embroidered bands (stoles or orphreys), and a dark purple garment with gold trim at right.Artifact

Secondary source

Becket Liturgical Garments, Sens Cathedral

12th century

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