BTS12O: Beneath the Sheets, Stand and Deliver, Original Artwork

Original Artwork Ink and watercolour wash with mixed media overlay.

Original Artworks derived from the discovered journal of Professor Matthias Jeremiah Braithwaite. He Dedicated his works and studies to the investigation into the unusual, the unnatural and the uncanny.

White mount with black inlay. Mounted Colour image area 30.5 x 15cm approx.

From the journal:

Dear Diary,

Ale houses the length and breadth of the country claim Turpin rides by, haunting the very roads themselves, though it was here in York where the villain was finally executed.

In a somewhat romanticised novel authored by Harrison Ainsworth, Turpin took credit for a record-breaking ride from London to York on his trusty steed Black Bess. In truth, the horse did belong to, and was ridden by, one William Nevison, otherwise known as Swift Nick. Turpin himself was nothing more than a murderous thug who viciously tortured and killed his victims, using his former training as a butcher to aid his evil. As a member of the violent Essex Gang, he robbed both rich and poor alike.

Turpin finally brought about his own demise whilst using the alias John Palmer and posing as a gentleman. Under the influence of strong liquor, he flew into a rage following a game of chance and shot the prize cockerel of a wealthy land owner. Thus "John Palmer" was sent to the Castle Prison in York. The criminal wrote to his brother-in-law to pay bail, but the letter was refused due to a sixpence surcharge and so was returned to a local magistrate. Turpin's luck took another downward turn when this magistrate, who happened to have been his old schoolmaster, recognised the handwriting of his former pupil. As a consequence his true identity was revealed and Turpin was sentenced to death.

When the final moment came, he is said to have thrown himself from the gallows, depriving the hangman of his sport.

But this is not the end of Turpin's tale. Before he died, in exchange for ale, he had struck a bargain with a York publican to display his corpse, in order that people might come from far and wide to view the body at the tavern. When finally laid to rest, this infamous scoundrel was once again disturbed, as his remains were stolen by grave robbers and delivered to a local surgeon for examination.

Prof Matthias. J. Braithwaite

The Original Does NOT glow under Blacklight.