Gospel in Art: Memorial of Saints John Fisher and Thomas More

Saint Thomas More, portrait by Holbein © The Frick Collection, New York

Source: Christian Art

Gospel of 22 June 2023
Matthew 24:4-13

Jesus said to his disciples: 'Take care that no one deceives you; because many will come using my name and saying, "I am the Christ," and they will deceive many. You will hear of wars and rumours of wars; do not be alarmed, for this is something that must happen, but the end will not be yet. For nation will fight against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes here and there. All this is only the beginning of the birth-pangs.

'Then they will hand you over to be tortured and put to death; and you will be hated by all the nations on account of my name. And then many will fall away; men will betray one another and hate one another. Many false prophets will arise; they will deceive many, and with the increase of lawlessness, love in most men will grow cold; but the man who stands firm to the end will be saved.'

Reflection on the painting

Today we celebrate Saints John Fisher and Thomas More. Both were beatified in 1886 along with 54 other English martyr and they were canonised together in 1935.

In 1526, the painter of our portrait, Hans Holbein, was based in Basel, Switzerland. The Reformation had come to town and with it the destruction of many artworks. Certainly commissions for new paintings dried up in the 1520's. So Holbein decided to travel up north, to Catholic England, in search of wealthy patrons for his craft. On his way to England, he stopped over in the Netherlands, to procure letters of introduction from the great humanist Desiderius Erasmus. Erasmus was a friend of Sir Thomas More, and thus introductions were made and less than a year later this portrait was painted by Holbein of Thomas More.

Holbein made several versions. The version we are looking at today conveys the power of Thomas More who at the time was lawyer, judge, social philosopher, author, statesman, speaker of the House of Commons in 1523 and a highly respected Renaissance humanist. Two years after this portrait was painted More served King Henry VIII as Lord High Chancellor of England from October 1529 to May 1532. More strongly opposed the Protestant Reformation, Henry VIII's separation from the Catholic Church, refusing to acknowledge Henry as supreme head of the Church of England and the annulment of his marriage to Catherine of Aragon. After refusing to take the Oath of Supremacy, he was convicted of treason and executed. On his execution, he was reported to have said: "I die the King's good servant, and God's first". Saint John Fisher was executed for the same reasons for refusing to accept the king as the supreme head of the Church of England and for upholding the Catholic Church's doctrine of papal supremacy. He was named a cardinal shortly before his death.

Our painting shows Thomas More wearing his official robes as well as his Collar of Esses, with the Tudor rose badge of Henry VIII. This chain signifies service to the King, not any specific office. He looks off to the right, with an expression that is both severe, pensive and watchful, qualities expected in state leaders. We can feel More's own religious certainty and steadfastness. The S's on the chain stand for the motto 'Souvent me souvien', or, 'Think of me often'.

Saints John Fisher and Thomas More, pray for us.

LINKS

Gospel in Art: https://christian.art/
Today's reflection: https://christian.art/daily-gospel-reading/matthew-24-4-13-2023/