Pierre Bataille's magnificent Mayflower 1620 consists of four oak panels each eight Feet 2 Inches by 1 Foot 8 Inches. They faithfully depicts the Pilgrim Fathers---- puritan separatist from the Church of England---- standing on the quay before boarding the Mayflower bound for the New World. The Pilgrims Fathers are presented on a long« traveling panorama » on a Plymouth quay, with bag and baggage on the morning of embarkation. As noted by many critiques, it is meticulously and humorously etched in wood. Anticipation, solemnity and happiness characterize the faces of these courageous individuals, even the dogs are anxious to be off. We see two pregnant women and playful children among the lot, not to mention the tender scene between a man and his wife, at the end of panel three. While one pregnant woman gives birth to her baby on the voyage, the other will be give birth to the first Pilgrim baby born in the New World.
The Pilgrims were composed of families, their servants, maidservants and single, young adventurous men. They are represented by their own names. William Bradford and John Carver, the first two male figures to be shown, later became governors of the Plymouth Colony. Miles Standish, another well-known figure, was a Dutch army captain hired to defend the Pilgrims in the new world.
Since the Boston Museum did not contain any facial representation of the Pilgrims with the exception of Bradford and Carver, Pierre had to create them. His humor, theatrical perspective and love of adventure is revealed in their faces and gestures. Pierre's own face can be seen on the body of Mr. Ellis seen at the end of panel four. Due to the research and generosity of American Historians, he was able to attach authentic names to these individuals
The Pilgrims' crossing was extremely hazardous and instead of landing in Virginia, which was their intended destination, they first sighted land at Cape Cod and decided to settle at what became Plymouth, Massachusets. Six months later, out of the 102 Pilgrims who embarked for the New World, only 46 survived.
Pierre Bataille's wife, Josette, is standing at the end of the four long panels outside of their home in Saint-Sauveur-le-Vicomte, Normandy, France. Click on panel to view the entire work.