![St. Christopher, detail showing Hermit [59KB]](molescr.jpg)
This detail shows (left) the Hermit with, held on a pole, his huge lantern (the lantern, representing the light of true religion, is always large, but this example is enormous). Behind the Hermit, his hermitage, shaped like a sentry-box, is very typical of buildings painted on church walls in the 15th century, but the carefully reproduced half-timbering is very rare indeed. There are faint traces of two shields-of-arms at the top corners of this painting; one is thought to be that of a local man called Forster, who became Lord Mayor of London in 1454 - he may have paid for this St. Christopher to be made, perhaps to celebrate his Mayorship.
© Anne Marshall 2000