#Medieval illuminations devil series#

On God’s knee is a quatrefoil (not visible in the photographs), an Anglo-Saxon motif that indicates a very early date of before 1090 for these paintings it is found in a number of 11th-century manuscripts. At the centre in a triple mandorla, now rather damaged, is a representation of the Trinity known as the ‘Throne of Grace’, where God the father, seated, holds the cross with Christ on it and a dove with wings outstretched represents the Holy Spirit. The roundels are part of a scene of the Last Judgement that covered the east wall of the church, over the chancel arch. The east wall with the Last Judgement including the ‘Throne of God’ Trinity, St Mary’s Church, Houghton-on-the-Hill However, the image in the Regularis concordia is clearly one long scroll held by all three people whereas the three in the St Mary’s church border are detached from each other. It has the same clear ochre outlines, though there is predominant use of yellow, and traces of white, red and green have been found on the plaster. The way the wavy scroll is held up by the three figures above and its undulating shape, shaded in brown, green, mauve and ochre, repeated in the image of the monk holding the scroll below, is reminiscent of the wall painting. King Edgar, with Bishops Dunstan and Æthelwold, Regularis concordia, England (? Christ Church Canterbury), first half of the 11th century: British Library Cotton MS Tiberius A III, f. The shape of the scrolls and the way the figures hold them up recalls this image of King Edgar, with Bishops Dunstan and Æthelwold, in a copy of the Regularis Concordia, made at Christ Church, Canterbury. Nave east wall: detail of the border with the saints (and Christ) holding scrolls, St Mary’s, Houghton-on-the-Hill ( courtesy of the Friends of St Marys website) The figure on the right may be Jesus and on his left, not shown here, are demons, also holding scrolls (or are they snakes?). which contains perhaps the most complete set of early medieval wall paintings in England they date from the 11th century, shortly after the Norman Conquest of England.

#Medieval illuminations devil series#

This image of a series of saints or apostles in roundels, holding scrolls, is from the wall of the tiny church of St Mary, Houghton-on-the-Hill, in Norfolk. The styles and subjects are familiar, and they also have amazing stories to tell.

It is worth remembering, though, that many wonderful medieval paintings survive on the walls of country churches in forgotten corners of Britain. Our manuscripts contain so many hidden gems of medieval art, and one of this Blog's aims is to bring them to light.