Welcome! This page will attempt to introduce some of
you to the concept of pre 1830 New England gravestone carvings as an art form.
It will briefly attempt to illustrate the symbology of many of the images
and the meanings behind their use. Let me warn you this page is quite extensive
and is the embodiment of several years of research. We hope you will find this
page entertaining and informative
~ Background ~
The
people of New England faithfully embraced Puritanism. They were fiercely
devoted to the love and worship of God. The Puritans believed 'that
a man could live in the world and yet not be of it' (Graven
Images 1966:4). As the bible teaches 'therefore get out from
among them and separate yourselves, says the lord, and quit touching that
unclean thing' (Bible 2 Cor 6:17). In other words,
according to scripture, even though they lived in a world full of people with
various beliefs, morals and ethics, they must keep their behaviors and beliefs
separate from the ways of the world and strictly adhere to bible principles.
They must lead and live clean, 'pure' lives.
Although
the Puritans did their best to maintain a life based on their theological
beliefs, some worldly customs did manage to infiltrate their lives. In spite of
several scriptures warning against the use of idols, such as, 'therefore my
beloved ones, flee from idolatry' (Bible 1 Cor 10:14), or the use of graven
images, 'And her graven images will be crushed to pieces .... all her idols
I shall make desolate wastes' (Bible Mic 1:7). Both idols and
graven images were used frequently on Puritan gravestones between 1653 and
1830.
It
has been suggested by Allen Ludwig, the author of Graven Images, that the
Puritans use of graven images on gravestones were used as custom
dictated from ancient times. He refers to a story taken from the bible,
which says that after Cain killed his brother Able, Adam, their
father erected a great stone with the inscription 'Here was shed the blood
of the righteous Abel.' (Graven Images 1966:3), as the possible reason for
their use of graven images. I feel that he may be in error here. I will concede
that although the stone did in fact bare an inscription, this may possibly have
started the use of stone memorials to honor the dead. However, there was no
mention of the use of carved images appearing on the stone. This would surely
prove to be contrary to their theocratic beliefs with so many scriptures
warning against idolatry and the use of graven images.
There
are many things written about the Puritans and in nearly every writing there is
mention of the fact that they were a superstitious people. 'Interestingly,
it was only in their death rituals that Puritans indulged in any sort of
image-making, and it is in their graveyard art that we find an otherwise well
hidden, but deep-seated, naive belief in mystic symbolism (Stranger
1972:17). It is my belief that this unexplained reason for the use of carved
images on gravestones was more likely due to their superstitious beliefs rather
than the misinterpretation of scripture. No one will ever really know
for sure what the reasoning is behind this apparent departure from the
scripture, in the use of graven images on their stone memorials (though we all
have our own ideas). What we do know is that though they may be old, cracked,
broken and fallen, their graveyards have become wondrous museums for our personal
pleasure and perusal and their memorials are now considered an interesting form
of American Folk-Art.
Background on Gravestones Gravestone
Motifs Gravestone Symbology
The Five Classes of Gravestones Alphabetical Listing of
Gravestone Symbols
Dedication Links Home
Gravestones A New England Art Form © 1992 D. A. Jacobs - Photography ©
1992 D.A. Jacobs all rights reserved
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