Scene from the Life of Thomas Becket

Thomas Becket (c. 1118–1170), the archbishop of Canterbury, was declared a saint just two years after being murdered in Canterbury Cathedral by allies of the English king. This panel was once part of a window depicting the saint’s life and miracles from the ambulatory of Trinity Chapel, a devotional space within the cathedral. Though its subject remains unclear, this section is the only one to have survived, since it was removed from the cathedral in the nineteenth century and was spared from World War II. Stained glass was one of the most prized art forms of the Middle Ages; the development of Gothic architecture, with its tall, pointed arches and vaults supported by web-like ribs, enabled the inclusion of large windows. Often comprising a series of iron frames supporting glass medallions like the one seen here, the windows brought colored light into the church and provided new opportunities to illustrate Christian stories.