Editing Edmund the Martyr (section)

== In art ==

The veneration of Edmund throughout the centuries has created a legacy of noteworthy works of art. An illustrated copy of Abbo of Fleury's ''Passio Sancti Eadmundi'', made at Bury St Edmunds in around 1130, is now kept at the [[The Morgan Library & Museum|Morgan Library]] in [[New York City]].{{sfn|Farmer|2011|pp=136{{ndash}}137}} The copy of [[John Lydgate]]'s 15th-century ''Life'', written for [[Henry VI of England]], is held at the British Library.<ref name="H2278">{{cite web |title=Detailed record for Harley 2278 |url=http://www.bl.uk/catalogues/illuminatedmanuscripts/record.asp?MSID=6643&CollID=8&NStart=2278 |publisher=[[British Library]] |access-date=13 December 2021 |archive-date=6 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220106113936/http://www.bl.uk/catalogues/illuminatedmanuscripts/record.asp?MSID=6643&CollID=8&NStart=2278 |url-status=dead }}</ref> The [[Wilton Diptych]] was painted during the reign of [[Richard II of England]] and is the most famous representation of Edmund in art. [[Panel painting|Painted on oak panels]], it shows Edmund and Edward the Confessor as the royal patrons of England presenting Richard to the [[Madonna (art)|Virgin and Child]].{{sfn|Farmer|2011|pp=136{{ndash}}137}}<ref>{{cite web |title=The Wilton Diptych |url=https://archives.history.ac.uk/richardII/wilton.html |website=Richard II's Treasure: the riches of a medieval king |publisher=[[University of London]] |access-date=12 December 2021 |date=2007}}</ref> The poet John Lydgate (1370{{ndash}}1451), who lived all his life in Bury St Edmunds, presented his twelve-year-old king Henry VI of England with a long poem (now known as ''Metrical Lives of Saints Edmund and Fremund'') when Henry came to the town in 1433 and stayed at the abbey for four months.{{sfn|Frantzen|2004|pp=66{{ndash}}67}} The book is now kept by the British Library in London.<ref name=BL-2278 /> Edmund's martyrdom features on several medieval wall-paintings to be found in churches across England.{{refn|1=Churches with surviving wall paintings of Edmund can be found at [http://www.paintedchurch.org/subinx2.htm Medieval Wall Painting in the English Parish Church] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120612065324/http://www.paintedchurch.org/subinx2.htm |date=12 June 2012 }} website: D to F.|group=note}}

<gallery mode="packed" heights="150" style="text-align:left">
File:St Edmund Statue Designs on Metal.jpg|alt=photograph of sculpture of Edmund |''St Edmund'' (2011), Bury St Edmunds, pierced by arrows
File:Martrydom of St Edmund by Brian Whelan.jpg|alt=2011 painting of the death of Edmund |[[Brian Whelan]]{{spaced ndash}}''The Martyrdom of St Edmund'', [[St Edmundsbury Cathedral]]
File:Salisbury Cathedral St Edmund the Martyr.jpg|alt=photograph of cathedral statue |Statue, [[Salisbury Cathedral]]
File:The Wilton Diptych (left).jpg|alt=detail of the Wilton Diptych|The Wilton Diptych
File:Martrydom of St Edmund - geograph.org.uk - 232454.jpg|alt=photograph of wall painting depicting Edmund |Edmund's martyrdom on a wall painting at [[St Andrew's Church, Stoke Dry]], [[Rutland]]
File:St. Edmund, St. Edmund's Church, Southwold, Suffolk - geograph.org.uk - 212502.jpg|alt=photograph of statue of Edmund |A statue of the saint outside [[St Edmund's Church, Southwold]].
</gallery>

The saint features in a romantic poem, ''[[Athelston]]'', whose 15th-century author is unknown. In the climactic scene of the poem, Edyff, the sister of King 'Athelston' of England, gives birth to Edmund after passing through a ritual [[Ordeal by fire#Ordeal of fire|ordeal by fire]].{{sfn|Field|Brewer|2010|p=140}}