138 MTJEAL PAINTINGS IN COENISH CHURCHES. 



Amongst the saints, St. Christopher and St. George were the 

 most popular, and there were few pre-ref ormation churches which 

 did not possess a painting of the former saint, who owed his 

 popularity to the belief that whoever looked on his picture would 

 be safe from a violent death during the day: two verses 

 commemorating this idea are often found in conjunction with the 

 portrait. 



" Each day that thou the image of St. Christopher dost see 

 That day no frightful form of death will make an end of thee." 



In Cornwall there is a good example at Breage, slightly 

 "touched" in recent times. St. Christopher is depicted as an aged 

 man, of gigantic size, carrying the infant Christ (holding an orb 

 and in the act of benediction) across a stream, whilst a hermit 

 on the bank in the background holds up a lantern to light the 

 saint across the ford, and fishes, a mermaid, and a ship are 

 depicted below. At St. Keverne is another example; and at 

 Poughill are two, one on the north wall (the usual position, that 

 it might be seen at once by all who entered the church) the other 

 on the south, both unfortunately brilliantly repainted, and a crown 

 added to one. Other examples were at Virginstow, Ludgvan, 

 Mylor, and St. Clement — all now destroyed. 



The latter painting, which was discovered in 1844, was 

 conjectured to "commemorate the return of Admiral Hawkins, 

 of Trewithan, in the adjoining parish of Probus, one of the 

 Commanders of the English fleet which conquered the "Invincible 

 Armada," with Queen Elizabeth welcoming him home, and his 

 countrymen also testifying their joy at his return !" 



St. George, the patron saint of England, was also a very 

 popular subject, and examples occur at St. Just-in-Penwith and 

 at Calstock. 



Of other Saints, St. Margaret was at St. Clement ; St. 

 Michael the Archangel, St. Thomas of Canterbury, St. Giles and 

 St. Corentin at Breage ; St. Hubert at Crantock ; St. Cuthbert at 

 Cubert ; and St. Eoche at Launceston. 



Paintings of the Seven Deadly Sins were very usual, and 

 there is one at Poundstock, where they are grouped about a tree. 

 At the top is the head of Pride with an attendant demon, and 

 the other sins are depicted at the ends of the branches. 



