The year is 1893, in the reign of the great Queen Victoria. In York, a city most haunted, notorious ghost hunter Professor Matthias Jeremiah Braithwaite has gone missing. His diary, documenting his exploration of the city in search of paranormal activity, has been discovered. Could this explain the mystery of his disappearance?
By the blood red light of sunset, in a hushed graveyard, I encounter a dastardly fellow - none other than the notorious highwayman Richard Turpin. He stands before me, musket in hand, all threat and menace, blackened eyes full of malice. A tricorn hat perches atop his shrouded head and the garment bears two smoking holes where his enemy had fired upon him.
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.
Upon hearing this news, an angry mob descended upon the surgeon's lodgings and reclaimed the body, which was once more paraded through the streets before being returned to the ground… but alas, Turpin’s spirit is restless still.
The image is available in four formats:
Monochrome - a black & white print in a black mount
Colour - a colour print in a black mount
Enchanted Edition - a larger mounted print where the ghostly images glow under black light
Enchanted Limited Edition - a larger mounted print where the ghosts and many other background details illuminate under black light. The mount is hand signed by the artist and numbered from an edition of 1893 - the year of the Professor's disappearance!
The UV details are hand painted onto the print - each image will be slightly different. A black light torch/ UV lamp (readily available from many suppliers) is required to view the ghostly glow - a regular torch will not work.
In his diary, the Professor recorded the discovery of the ghostly glow with his magic lamp. The diary entry, printed on aged parchment effect paper, is included with each artwork.
"What Devilry is this? My sketches and impressions of these unworldly beings have been enchanted by some form of witchcraft. It seems a ghoulish hand has been at work mimicking my own and changing the very nature of my picture. Viewed using a strange light purchased on my adventures in the Far East, an unnatural glow emanates from the very soul of the spirit I have drawn. It is my belief that this light will let me see into this world of spirits beyond our own - it will require much further study and experimentation.”
Would you like your picture framing? Our favourite frame choices for this picture are Small Linear Black and Wide Distressed Black. The prints are framed on demand in the gallery's workshop - if the print is in stock, we can frame it! Do contact the gallery if you need help with framing, as we stock many other frames.
© The Artist