Guilds and brotherhoods
· Vanalinn
St Maurice of the Blackheads
The image of St Maurice, patron saint of the Blackheads, formed part of the brotherhood’s name and public identity.
At Pikk 26 and in the brotherhood’s imagery, visitors encounter St Maurice, a Christian soldier and martyr portrayed in varied ways in European art, including as a Black man. His image helped make the merchant association recognisable in the city. Today it raises questions about how a saint’s story became an emblem and how later generations read the same figure. No single simple explanation covers every use of his image and the brotherhood’s name.
Practical information
Address: Pikk 26
View the House of the Blackheads facade at Pikk 26 from the public street. Read the imagery alongside the building’s historical interpretation.