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The purpose of wall and ceiling paintings inside medieval churches was twofold:
- The church building represented Heaven and Earth, with paintings representing good overcoming evil and the lives of the Saints or Bible stories at the lower level; while above at the altar end of the church were representations of God, Christ in Majesty and His angels.
- Most people could not read so The Bible stories and other religious texts were illustrated on church walls to help people understand those stories: St Christopher carrying the baby Jesus across a river, the virtues dressed as knights overcoming Vices, The Temptations of Hell and the results of doing evil things were all illustrated to bring home the message.
Another important aspect was simply about colour - most working people had little or no colour in their lives, since there were no magazines, posters, colourful clothes or television. Their lives were full of browns, greys and straw colour, so the impact of entering a very brightly-painted church building was immense.
Wiki User
∙ 12y ago
Wiki User
∙ 12y agoThere were a number of different types of paintings in churches.
In the chancel and on the altar would be small free-standing pictures of the Saints, which today are called icons - Alexander Neckham gives "A Little Mary and other images" in his list of contents of a church around 1180. The word "icon" was not used in England until much later, but this seems to be what he means.
The walls and ceiling of the church would be decorated with pictures of the Bible stories and the lives of the Saints. Neckham does not mention these paintings by name but we know that all medieval churches had them and there are even depictions from the time of wall-painters at work. It is likely that the Anglo-Norman word image was used to describe these paintings since it is the same one that Neckham uses for the free-standing icons.
Church interiors were also painted with brightly-coloured patterns and blocks of colour; the walls, arches and pillars at Rochester cathedral were originally painted in broad blue, green, yellow and red stripes (no trace remains today).
Wiki User
∙ 14y agoYes. Almost all medieval art was made for the Church.
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Why did churches have doom paintings in medieval times?
Church wall paintings covered a wide range of religious subjects: Heaven and hell, the lives of the Saints, Bible stories, the life and crucifixion of Christ, the Virtues overcoming the Vices and so on. The point of all of these was to illustrate these subjects for people who could not read; paintings of the Last Judgement helped the priest to communicate the Bible message to an audience who could not read about it for themselves. Very few original medieval wall paintings survive today, but thanks to the work of E W Tristram a large number have been recorded and published in his three books on the subject.
What were the practices of churches in the medieval period?
They mostly practiced how to slurp
What was the medieval churches like?
They were usually fairly large and made of stone and black iron
Why were medieval cathedrals called stone bibles?
I have never heard this term used, but if it has been it is because the churches contrained windows that told the stories of the bible. People couldn't read so the church to teach the bible stories used the church itself to teach the stories. They were in the stain glass windows and in the paintings as well using the "stations of the cross" to teach the bible.
What where medieval churches made out of?
Medieval bricks. Wooden base, covered by rocks.
What has the author WW Lillie written?
W.W Lillie has written: 'Medieval Paintings on the Screens of the Parish Churches of Mid and South England'
Are there medieval churches in Italy?
There are lots and lots and lots and lots of medieval churches in Italy.
The innovative architecture of Medieval Europe is best reflected in what type of structure?
Churches are illustrative of the innovative architecture of medieval Europe.
How do renaissance and medieval paintings of religious subject differ?
Renaissance paintings show figures in earthly settings; figures in medieval paintings have heavenly gold backgrounds.
Why were medieval doom paintings used?
Doom paintings were used to warn people about living a sinful life by showing them heaven and hell.Read more: Why_were_medieval_doom_paintings_used
Facts about medieval churches?
Medieval churches dominated peoples lives, it was oen of the most important events that people looked forward to. In every medieval church, each regions of Europe had their own chant to sing. Check out more info/facts at the website below:
In contrast with medieval paintings renaissance paintings are less likely to emphasize what?
religious themes
In contrast to medieval paintings renaissance paintings are less likely to emphasize what?
religious themes
Did byzantine churches have paintings on the walls?
Yes, some of them do.
Why did churches have doom paintings in medieval times?
Church wall paintings covered a wide range of religious subjects: Heaven and hell, the lives of the Saints, Bible stories, the life and crucifixion of Christ, the Virtues overcoming the Vices and so on. The point of all of these was to illustrate these subjects for people who could not read; paintings of the Last Judgement helped the priest to communicate the Bible message to an audience who could not read about it for themselves. Very few original medieval wall paintings survive today, but thanks to the work of E W Tristram a large number have been recorded and published in his three books on the subject.
What were the churches made out of in the middle ages?
What churches were made out of depended on the time and place. Many, perhaps most, churches were built of stone. In places where there was no stone, churches were often built of brick. Some churches were built of wood with timbered construction, and some of these had the open areas filled with wattle and daub, which is mats woven from reeds and covered with daub.
Medieval paintings usually had what meaning?
Symbolic meaning
