John Bunyan

DESCRIPTION: This likely C19th image shows an engraved portrait of John Bunyan, the 17th-century English writer and preacher. He famously wrote The Pilgrim's Progress, a very famous Christian story and lived from 1628 to 1688. Time in Jail: He spent 12 years in prison in Bedford after preaching without an official government license...Following the Restoration of King Charles II in 1660, the British monarchy and government suppressed religious freedom in an effort to enforce national unity through the state church. Under laws like the Conventicle Act, holding or attending religious meetings outside the Church of England (nonconformist or separatist assemblies) was classified as an illegal, politically dangerous act. Yet Bunyan was a Puritan lay preacher and a nonconformist who refused to seek official ordination or permission from an Anglican bishop to conduct his ministries. He was arrested in November 1660 during a private religious gathering in the hamlet of Samsell. The authorities offered to release Bunyan multiple times on the condition that he stop preaching publicly and promise to attend the mandated Church of England services. But he famously refused to compromise his faith, looking the magistrate in the eye and declaring that if he were released today, he would preach again tomorrow. He asserted that he would stay in prison "till the moss shall grow on mine eyebrows" rather than violate his principles. Because of his resolute refusal to stop spreading his faith, his original three-month sentence stretched into 12 continuous years inside the Bedford County Gaol (1661–1672). It was during this lengthy period of confinement that he penned his most legendary literary masterwork. The present piece is an antique printed engraving showing his likeness and a copy of his signature. STYLE: Engraving COLOUR: Monochrome SIZE (cm): 13 x 19 CREATORS: PUBLICATION: PUBLISHER: DATE: ?C19 COMMENTS: Excellent condition SUBJECT: People PACKAGE: Single one-sided sheet in acid-free mount, flat & unfolded inside hard-backed envelope. Royal Mail Tracked 24 included. Note: Images are provided for illustration purposes only and are intended to show the complete printed product, including any imperfections of age that may be present. Frames or props shown in the images are for display purposes only and are not included with your purchase.