Sketch for 'Seeking Sanctuary' 1890

Ralph Hedley painted this sketch for 'Seeking Sanctuary' in the late 19th or early 20th century. The artwork depicts a scene of someone seeking refuge within a grand, imposing church. During this period in England, the concept of sanctuary within religious institutions carried significant historical and social weight, offering protection to those fleeing persecution or seeking absolution. Hedley's sketch captures this tension, contrasting the vulnerability of the individual with the formidable architecture of the church. The setting is evocative of the late medieval or Tudor periods when the right to claim 'sanctuary' was frequently debated. Was Hedley making a comment on the social precarity of his time? Is this a conservative painting, harking back to an idealised version of the past? Or is it more progressive, and focused on the plight of marginalized individuals. To understand Hedley's motivation more fully we would need to delve into his personal papers and the records of exhibitions in which he participated. We might also need to study the social and legal history of the concept of sanctuary. The meaning of this artwork, like all artworks, is contingent on its historical context.