Medieval Shrine of Thomas Becket (textured)

3D ModelNoAI

Reconstruction of the late-medieval shrine (c.1408) of St Thomas Becket in the Trinity Chapel of Canterbury Cathedral. The shrine’s marble base and golden casket were created 1180-1220 and destroyed in 1539. The model was based on a few surviving small fragments, depictions on 14th century pilgrim badges, and the architectural context of the Trinity Chapel which was designed to hold it.

The model is presented here textured, to emphasise the high level of detailed research that went into the reconstruction. Textured videos showing figures interacting with the shrine in c.1408 can be found at www.thebecketstory.org.uk/canterbury/visiting-cathedral.

The model was created in 3ds Max between 2015 and 2017 as part of the AHRC ‘Pilgrimage and England’s Cathedrals: Past and Present’ project by the Centre for the Study of Christianity and Culture, University of York. Paradata for the model is available here: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/00681288.2020.1771897