Banff Churchyard. Headstone. Digital image of BWA 343.

Description Banff Churchyard. Headstone. Digital image of BWA 343.

Collection Papers of Betty Willsher, historian, St Andrews, Scotland

Catalogue Number SC 801692

Category On-line Digital Images

Scope and Content Gravestone of John and Alex McLean and Jane Beat, St Mary's Church and Burial-Ground, Church Street, Banff, Aberdeenshire This gravestone features a winged soul in its pediment (symbol of the spirit ascending to Heaven after death). In the panel below are depicted two angels standing on globes, which symbolise their power over worldly things. The angel on the left holds a trumpet, which he will sound on the Day of Judgement to raise the dead. The angel on the right holds an hourglass, symbol of life's brevity. Both hold palm fronds, emblems of resurrection. In the centre of the stone is a four-poster bed with a figure inside, representing a death bed. Below can be seen a skull and bone joined by a ribbon, further emblems of mortality. This gravestone, with its complex messages of death and eternal life, would have been easily understood by passers-by in the 18th century. Symbolic scenes like this were intended to confront people with the horror of their own mortality, and encourage them to lead more virtuous lives. This gravestone commemorates John McLean, who died in 1738, Alex McLean, who died in 1738, and Jane Beat, who died in 1758. It is inscribed: 'This stone is erected/by CHARLES McLEAN in Banff/to ye memory of his father/John McLEAN who Died in May/ye 1st 1738 aged 55 years & his/son Alex McLEAN who died May 15/1738 aged 8 years & JANE BEAT/Spouse to John McLean who died/March ye 14 1758 aged 45 years'. Source: RCAHMS contribution to SCRAN.

External Reference BWA/343

Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/collection/801692

File Format (TIF) Tagged Image File Format bitmap