Medieval Wall Paintings

Medieval churches in England were more or less completely painted - the walls, the window sills, the woodwork, the monuments. After the church had been built and plastered the artists set to work. They painted saints, Bible stories allegories, dooms, crucifixions and even imitation masonry. Except for the last, the object was not decoration but religious and moral education. In an illiterate age wall painting graphically reinforced the message of the scriptures through pictures which needed no explanation. They have been called 'The Poor Man's Bible'. Today a painted church is a rarity and few have much of their original decoration left. The fascinating story told by the pictures that do remain is told and illustrated in this book. First published as Discovering Wall Paintings, this new colour version, revised and expanded, includes many beautiful watercolour illustrations by the author. At the end a county by county gazetteer lists churches where wall paintings can still be seen, indicating those that are extensive or of high artistic merit.