Medieval Wall Paintings

A concise introduction to the art of medieval wall paintings in British churches, with some relevance to domestic settings. Rosewell, a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries and an expert on the subject, explores the purpose, creation, and survival of these works, which once adorned church interiors with vibrant religious imagery and patterns. The book explains that these paintings, often depicting biblical scenes, saints, death, judgment, and moral lessons like the Seven Deadly Sins, were not merely "books for the illiterate" but served complex roles: emphasizing church dedications, aiding private devotion, and enhancing decoration. It details the techniques used by small teams of professional artists who painted on dry plaster (secco) or, less commonly, wet plaster (fresco), using pigments ranging from affordable earth tones to costly ones like ultramarine from lapis lazuli.

Rosewell addresses their destruction, primarily during the Reformation’s iconoclastic waves, when Protestant zealots whitewashed or defaced Catholic imagery, and later through unsympathetic restorations, such as at Bampton and Burford, where plaster was stripped. He also covers modern conservation efforts, noting the fragility of surviving fragments, like those at Shorthampton and Dorchester Abbey, which have been restored, while others remain vulnerable. A separate chapter contrasts religious paintings with domestic ones, which often featured secular themes like heraldry or hunting scenes. The book includes a gazetteer listing key British examples, such as St Paul and the Viper in Canterbury Cathedral, and is richly illustrated with over 100 color photos and watercolors by the author, praised for their clarity and detail.