Sacred artist Gwyneth Thompson-Briggs never imagined that a quiet moment inside the Tower of London would one day inspire her to bring the final hours of St. Thomas More to life on canvas.
She recently shared her process of creating a new portrait of St. Thomas More for the parish that bears his name, St. Thomas More Parish in Centennial. From her childhood in Denver to her growth as an artist, Thompson’s path to becoming a painter is unique and inspiring.
Thompson studied at the Art Student League of Denver while being homeschooled throughout her childhood. After a short career in engineering, Thompson realized her true passion was creating beauty through sacred art.
“I recognized in my soul a deep longing for beauty and went back to school to study art. After completing several different programs, I finally found a wonderful painter named Paul Ingbretson who shared his knowledge with me and taught me many of the skills that I needed to become the painter I am today,” Thompson explained.
Her dedication to art led her to create a studio in St. Louis, Missouri, where she balances homeschooling her four children with her painting work.
“Most days, my husband and I homeschool our four children in the morning and then I paint in the afternoon. It is wonderful fun to be a sacred artist because I never know what my next commission will be. I get inquiries from all over the world, and each commission brings with it a new wave of research and a new set of technical challenges,” Thompson said.
When the commission for a new painting of St. Thomas More came from Father Matt Hartley, parochial vicar at St. Thomas More Parish in Centennial, Thompson was especially enthusiastic.
“As soon as I heard that parish was interested in a large painting of St. Thomas More, I was immediately reminded of an experience I had had over twenty years before. When I was eighteen, I visited the Tower of London,” Thompson said, explaining that her tour group was led to the cell where St. Thomas More spent his final days.
“I will never forget how cold the stone cell felt even on a beautiful spring day in June. The detail that had the greatest effect on me was the daylight that glowed through a cross-shaped window,” Thompson continued.
Throughout the creation of this piece, Thompson immersed herself in St. Thomas More’s story to bring authenticity to her work.
“The remote preparation for creating this painting was to read all the final letters of Thomas More from the year he was in the Tower and to meditate on the written portrait given by Erasmus. I also studied all the portraits of Thomas More by Holbein,” Thompson said.
To recreate this somber time in More’s life, Thompson took a hands-on approach in building the scene, from finding a model to setting up her studio.
“I spotted a man with a beard and Renaissance hair in a neighboring pew one Sunday and convinced him to model for me. Providentially, I also found a wonderful collection of Tudor costumes from a Shakespeare company nearby my studio in St. Louis,” Thompson recalled.
Painting this image in the heat of June was a challenge, but luckily her model stayed joyful through it all.
“The greatest challenge was that I did most of the painting in June. My studio is on the third floor of an old school from 1888. Beautiful light, but no air conditioning. I was fortunate to have a very cheerful model who did not mind wearing fur and velvet in 90 degree heat and high humidity for hours,” she continued.
Every step of the way, Thompson drew inspiration from More’s character and legacy.
“During the last several weeks, I have been thinking of Thomas More often. I think many of us dislike election season. I can say that I feel saddened by the obvious division on my street as yard signs mutely shout opposite worldviews. The example of Thomas More who unshakably adhered to his convictions should be an example for us all because he did it in perfect charity,” Thompson reflected.
Thompson’s portrait captures the solemn strength of St. Thomas More and his enduring example of faith and conviction.
“He gave up worldly rank and honors in the defense of marriage and truth. Through his intercession, may God grant us to be prepared to do the same, and to merrily meet again in heaven!” Thompson concluded.
