Christian Martyr (1888)
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 From
1888 to 1901, Evelyn De Morgan became a regular exhibitor at the
New Gallery. Her preferred subjects included sacred and allegorical
figures and scenes, and legends with a moral or social message such
as 'The Christian Martyr' treated in a fashion that exploited her
superior drawing skills and design sense, with striking colour and
billowing robes.
We are not aware of her exact sources for this but it must portray
the story, then current of Margaret Wilson of Wigtownshire (1667-85)
a Covenanter who was sentenced to be drowned in the Solway for refusing
to acknowledge the Episcopacy and King James II as the head of the
Church of Scotland.
The label attached to the post to which the figure is tied reads
“NAZARAEA”, implying the biblical parallel. The emphasis
is on martyrdom for purity and strength of personal beliefs and
the subject made universal.
oil on canvas, 42 x 62 inches
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