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The Stanley Child Monument, St. Peters Church, Elford, Staffordshire, England
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The Stanley Child Monument, St. Peters Church, Elford, Staffordshire, England
779746 The Stanley Child Monument, St. Peters Church, Elford, Staffordshire, England, 1848-49 (hand coloured engraving) by Richardson, Edward M. (1812-69); Private Collection; (add.info.: Gritstone monument commemorating the death of John Stanley c.1460 from a blow to the head by a wooden tennis ball. Considered the first known example of English monumental art documenting a sporting fatality. The Latin inscription Ubi dolor ibi digitus ( Where the pain is, there is the finger ) is a reconstruction by Richardson from antiquarian sources and may originally have been painted on the ball. The story is first mentioned in the 16th century by the Staffordshire antiquary, Sampson Erdeswicke (d.1603). The drawings of the Elford monuments were made by Richardson for his Monumental Effigies and Tombs in Elford Church, published in 1852.); British, out of copyright
Media ID 22736162
© Bridgeman Images
Accident Agony Effigy Fatality Fifteenth Pain Stanley Tennis Tragedy Accidents Tennis Ball
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The Stanley Child Monument - A Haunting Tribute to a Tragic Sporting Fatality
EDITORS COMMENTS
. This print captures the solemn beauty of The Stanley Child Monument, located in St. Peters Church, Elford, Staffordshire, England. Erected in 1848-49 and hand-coloured by Edward M. Richardson, this gritstone monument stands as a poignant testament to the untimely death of John Stanley around 1460. The tragic story behind this remarkable piece of English monumental art unfolds with heart-wrenching detail. John Stanley met his demise from a blow to the head by a wooden tennis ball—a chilling reminder that even innocent pastimes can have devastating consequences. In fact, it is believed to be the first documented case of an English sporting fatality immortalized through sculpture. The Latin inscription on the monument reads "Ubi dolor ibi digitus" or "Where the pain is, there is the finger". This haunting phrase was reconstructed by Richardson himself and may have originally adorned the very ball that caused young John's demise. Dating back to medieval times, this somber artwork serves as a powerful reminder of life's fragility and how tragedy can strike at any moment. It also showcases Richardson's talent for capturing intricate details in his drawings for his publication "Monumental Effigies and Tombs in Elford Church". As we gaze upon this image, we are reminded of both the fleeting nature of childhood innocence and our own mortality—making us cherish every precious moment with loved ones while pondering life's unpredictable twists and turns.
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