Artist

[Braveheart64]

Can anyone out there inform me what the letters N.S.S.U. which appear on a painting by "Herbert Beecroft"

Information on the artist, too, would be interesting.

Thanks in advance
Braveheart's Dad

[kempie]

Herbert Beecroft is perhaps best known (in Christian circles anyway) for a portrait depicting Jesus Christ (pic), which was painted in 1927 and later published (1942?) as a print by the National Sunday School Union (formed 1903). The title of the picture is taken from the moment after Peter has denied knowing Jesus, �And the Lord turned and looked on Peter and Peter remembered.�

Herbert Beecroft was born in 1864.

He was invited to lecture in Australia in 1905 and then settled in Woollahra.

The story goes that while Beecroft was praying one day, he was thinking of the scene outside the high priest�s house when Jesus was being taken after judgement through the courtyard at night when he heard Peter denying he even knew Jesus. When Beecroft opened his eyes he saw a vision of Jesus standing before him. He rose and told his wife: �I�ve seen the face.� He started painting day and night for a fortnight until it was completed.

[Braveheart64]

To Kempie, Thankyou very much for your reply. You may wonder the reason for the question, the fact being that my name is Beecroft and we have had a copy of this painting for some years and became obviously interested in this person's background, i.e. is he part of the family.
Obviously I now have to dig further into his background. Your notes are very much appreciated! Thank you! Braveheart's Dad..

[elmgreenhedges]

Dear Braveheart's Dad,

S.S.U. almost certainly stands for "Sunday School Union" in a town beginning with N. The Sunday School Union was the name given cross Britain for a local association of Sunday Schools in a given town or city. It would include Sunday Schools run by different Christian denominations in that town, e.g. Methodist, Baptist, Presbyterian. I know this because I am a Methodist Minister, and when I served in Barnsley in the 1980's I heard older people speak about the activities of the Barnsley Sunday School Union.