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Secondary sourcePaintingc. 1180

Wall Paintings of Thomas Becket at Santa Maria de Terrassa

Anonymous, Catalan · c. 1180

Catalan Romanesque frescoes showing Becket's consecration, death and burial, evidence his cult spread rapidly to Spain.

These frescoes depict Becket's consecration, death and burial, showing how fast his cult spread to Spain.

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Medieval wall painting in a rounded arched niche of a stone church wall. Upper section shows a haloed figure in green and red robes flanked by angels within a red and white border. Lower register shows several standing figures in red and white garments, with a painted inscription band below them.
Wall paintings of Thomas Becket's consecration, death and burial, Santa Maria de Terrassa, Spain, c. 1180.

About this source

What it is

These are Romanesque wall paintings, made by an anonymous Catalan artist around 1180, in the church of Santa Maria de Terrassa in Spain. They show scenes of Thomas Becket's consecration as archbishop, his death and his burial.

Why it matters

Painted only about a decade after Becket's murder, these frescoes show how quickly news of his death and sainthood travelled across medieval Europe, reaching far from England into Iberia. They reveal how local churches used his story to decorate sacred spaces and connect their communities to a famous and dramatic martyrdom.

Look closer

  • Why might a church far from England choose to paint scenes of an English archbishop's death?
  • What do the different registers (upper and lower) of the painting tell you about the story being told?
  • What is missing from the image that you might want to know about Becket's story?

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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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

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Secondary source

Becket Liturgical Garments, Sens Cathedral

12th century

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