Saint Bede the Venerable mug

This Saint Bede the Venerable mug can be a gift for someone who enjoys reading, teaching or studying Christian history. The painting shows the elderly monk dictating to a young man who writes. Image and name dedicate the keepsake to a figure whose life was linked with learning and the transmission of texts.

Saint Bede the Venerable mug with a writing scene

James Doyle Penrose’s painting The Last Chapter depicts Bede dictating his translation of the Gospel of Saint John. The scene by the window connects the composition with teaching and work with books. Choose it for someone who shares that interest or as a reminder of a reading that brings you together.

Bede spent most of his life in the communities of Wearmouth and Jarrow. The monastic library allowed him to study Scripture and consult ancient Christian authors. He wrote biblical commentaries, homilies and works for the education of others, including texts about metre and language. His activity shows how study and teaching formed part of community life and prayer, giving context to a gift dedicated to someone with whom you share reading and faith.

His name and commemoration on 25 May

The Saint Bede the Venerable mug records his name, Jarrow as the place of his death and the year 735 on the reverse. It also includes commemoration on 25 May. The prepared composition accompanies the painting with a reference to the monk’s life and identifies the author to whom you dedicate the gift.

Before ordering, you can rotate the composition in the 3D viewer to examine the image and text from different angles. Selecting Both sides displays two opposing views of the same design, with rotation still available. Choose the handle orientation for a right-handed or left-handed user. The number of mugs you wish to receive is selected separately from the views shown.

We print the composition by sublimation. The printed text is in Spanish. Choose this gift for the name, history or devotion that connects you with its recipient, and accompany it with a few personal words about why you thought of them. Our collection of religious mugs includes other figures and celebrations, so you can dedicate each gift to someone in your family or community.

Image credits

• The Last Chapter by James Doyle Penrose: Saint Bede dictating his translation of the Gospel of Saint John. James Doyle Penrose · Public domain.
• Source and licence on Wikimedia Commons

Frequently asked questions

What does the painting show?
The elderly Bede dictating his translation of the Gospel of Saint John to a young man, in The Last Chapter by James Doyle Penrose.

Which text appears on the reverse?
His name, death in Jarrow in 735 and commemoration on 25 May.

Can I preview both sides together?
Yes. The Both sides mode shows two views of the same design while allowing you to keep rotating the 3D scene.