About this objectEtching depicting St Mary’s Church, Ashwell, from the north, by F L Griggs. The church tower is centre left, with rooks flying from it centre right. A woman in a long dress faces the viewer, bottom right. This is the first state of the etching.
The Latin beneath (M.Ct.Xpenta. Miseranda.ferox.violenta | M.CCC.L. | Supest.plebs.pessima.in.finique.vents | Validus.oc.anno.maurus.in.orbe.tonat | M.CCC.LXI) is Reginald Hine’s transcription of the well known graffiti inside the tower, recording the outbreak of Black Death in 1350 and a great storm in 1361.
The handwritten dedication to Hine means ‘ in a time of huge battles ’, referring to the First World War then raging in Europe.
MakerFrederick Landseer Maur Griggs RA
Maker RoleArtist
Date Made1914
Medium and Materialspaper & ink,printers
Inscription and MarksPrinted: M.Ct.Xpenta. Miseranda.ferox.violenta | M.CCC.L. | Supest.plebs.pessima.in.finique.vents | Validus.oc.anno.maurus.in.orbe.tonat | M.CCC.LXI
Hand-written: To Reginald L. Hine from F L Griggs - tempore ingentis bella
