Bishop Wulstan, in Worcester Cathedral

Art Historical Context

This lithograph captures Bishop Wulfstan, the revered 11th-century saint and Bishop of Worcester, as rendered in a monument within Worcester Cathedral. Created by Maria Denman after a design by John Flaxman and published in 1829, the print offers a quiet tribute to both the medieval figure and the neoclassical vision of one of Britain’s most influential sculptors. Flaxman, celebrated for his elegant, linear style inspired by ancient Greek art, often designed church monuments that blended solemn dignity with classical grace. As a proof before letters—an early impression made before the addition of title or inscription—this work highlights the technical precision of early lithography, a medium then gaining popularity for reproducing fine art. Denman, who frequently translated Flaxman’s drawings into print after his death in 1826, preserved his refined contours and sense of calm reverence for wider audiences. Housed in the National Gallery of Art’s Rosenwald Collection, the print connects 19th-century viewers with both Anglo-Saxon history and the enduring appeal of Flaxman’s neoclassical ideals.