Museums

This sculpture is of a character from the Canterbury Tales, written by Geoffrey Chaucer in the late 1300s.

The story follows a group who meet at the Tabard Inn in Southwark, London, each intent on a pilgrimage to the shrine of Saint Thomas Becket in Canterbury. At the inn, the host suggests the group travel together, telling tales on their journey with the best storyteller winning a meal on return. The Reeve depicted in this sculpture, is a powerful but dishonest land manager, called Oswald. Chaucer describes Oswald’s appearance as well groomed but also explains he has a bad temper which Yeoman’s captures in this sculpture.