SHOHOLA, PA — Come to the Barryville Area Arts Association’s exhibit, “Puritans in Pictures,” and see a print of the painting that made “warts and all” such a common expression, at an opening reception on Wednesday, November 7 from 4 to 6 p.m. There will be complimentary refreshments, music, and a brief presentation, “Puritans in Pictures.”

The painting is a portrait of Oliver Cromwell by Samuel Cooper, who was regarded as the best portrait painter of his day. It shows the wart on the “Lord Protector of the Commonwealth” in great detail. The print is part of BAAAs month-long special exhibit on Puritan art.

Since the word was first invented in the 1560s, “Puritan” has been used mostly as an insult: a stereotype of a joyless, holier-than-thou hypocrite who sees art, music, and just about any type of fun as sinful. But this exhibit proves that’s not really the case. It’s true that art and music were often banned from Calvinist Churches—it was thought of as “too Catholic.” But Calvinists enjoyed art and music outside the Church, drew their own pictures, and wrote their own songs and poems.

The exhibit will be on display at the Artists’ Market Community Center, 114 Richardson Ave., through the month of November.