COVE

John Pitts, The Pilgrims Progress (1813), The British Museum. The Pilgrim’s Progress recounts the story of Christian, a man burdened by the knowledge of sin, and his journey along the winding path to the “Celestial City,” beginning with his escape from the “City of Destruction.” The tremendous popularity of Bunyan’s work among both children and adults implied an interest for artwork and revised editions of the text. Maps were produced to show Christian’s adventure, such as this hand-colored etching published by the English artist John Pitts in 1813. Each landmark represents a moral or spiritual challenge that Christian must overcome, symbolizing the spiritual experiences of faith, temptation, and redemption. Art like Pitts’s served as a guide for readers while enhancing the narrative’s accessibility, enabling it to resonate visually with a wide audience.