William Blake

The Penance of Jane Shore in St Paul’s Church, 1793, Ink, watercolour, and gouache on paper, 245 x 295 mm, Tate; Presented by the executors of W. Graham Robertson through the Art Fund 1949, N05898, © Tate, London / Art Resource, NY

Performing Penance

Commentary by Maryanne Saunders

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Read by Chloë Reddaway

The Penance of Jane Shore in St Paul’s Church by William Blake does not refer directly to Luke 7. Rather, Blake’s work depicts the historical event of the public penance of King Edward IV’s mistress Elizabeth ‘Jane’ Shore after the monarch’s death in 1483.  

The ‘walk of shame’ demanded of the noble woman Jane Shore after her long romances with the King and other nobility, was ostensibly a punishment for her wantonness and sexual immorality. Others theorized that the spectacle was in fact orchestrated by Edward’s brother,  Richard III, in response to allegations that Jane had been passing political messages amongst his enemies.  

It is the punishment itself, rather than the crime, that is depicted in this work by Blake, made two centuries after her death and undoubtedly with Early Modern plays based on her life in mind. Jane steps towards the centre of the composition. She is wrapped in a blanket over her kirtel (underdress) and holds a taper in her hand. She is surrounded by a group of soldiers and at right a group of spectators stare at her, perhaps censoriously. 

This work is interesting for the manner in which it depicts female penitence and what appears to be the inevitable public humiliation that accompanies it. Jane is half dressed by the standards of Tudor nobility, and—in a way not dissimilar to the Rubens painting elsewhere in this exhibition (albeit with a very different level of agency over the situation)—she is placed at the forefront of the bustling crowd. It is a place of exposure.

Nevertheless, the presence of the soldiers is indicative of Jane’s status, class, and relative safety despite the situation. Although she was subject to taunts and was even imprisoned, she later married, living out the rest of her life in bourgeois comfort.  

The viewer may read the scene as one of a powerless woman, forced to humiliate herself in public for the sake of a tyrannical king. Alternatively, we may see a political agent escaping harsher punishment by shielding herself in her gender and class. 

See full exhibition for Luke 7:36–50

Luke 7:36–50

Revised Standard Version

36 One of the Pharisees asked him to eat with him, and he went into the Pharisee’s house, and took his place at table. 37And behold, a woman of the city, who was a sinner, when she learned that he was at table in the Pharisee’s house, brought an alabaster flask of ointment, 38and standing behind him at his feet, weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears, and wiped them with the hair of her head, and kissed his feet, and anointed them with the ointment. 39Now when the Pharisee who had invited him saw it, he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet, he would have known who and what sort of woman this is who is touching him, for she is a sinner.” 40And Jesus answering said to him, “Simon, I have something to say to you.” And he answered, “What is it, Teacher?” 41“A certain creditor had two debtors; one owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. 42When they could not pay, he forgave them both. Now which of them will love him more?” 43Simon answered, “The one, I suppose, to whom he forgave more.” And he said to him, “You have judged rightly.” 44Then turning toward the woman he said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I entered your house, you gave me no water for my feet, but she has wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. 45You gave me no kiss, but from the time I came in she has not ceased to kiss my feet. 46You did not anoint my head with oil, but she has anointed my feet with ointment. 47Therefore I tell you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven, for she loved much; but he who is forgiven little, loves little.” 48And he said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.” 49Then those who were at table with him began to say among themselves, “Who is this, who even forgives sins?” 50And he said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”

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