Product Description

Wall paintings are a unique art form, complementing, and yet distinctly separate from, other religious imagery in churches. Unlike carvings, or stained glass windows, their support was the structure itself, with the artist's 'canvas' the very stone and plaster of the church. They were also monumental, often larger than life-size images for public audiences. Notwithstanding their dissimilarity from other religious art, wall paintings were also an integral part of church interiors, enhancing devotional imagery and inspiring faith and commitment in their own right, and providing an artistic setting for the church's sacred rituals and public ceremonies. This book brings together, often for the first time, many of the very best surviving examples of medieval church wall paintings. Using new technologies and many previously untried techniques, it allows us to visualize these images as the artists originally intended. The plates are accompanied by an authoritative and scholarly text, bringing the imagery and iconography of the medieval church vividly to life.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #1330208 in Books
• Published on: 2008-03-20
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 384 pages

Review
A long-awaited and very comprehensive survey that will be of major interest to all those interested in exploring ancient parish churches. --Country Life

A splendid book [...] Mr Rosewell knows what he is talking about, and explains how the paintings were made, what they mean, who paid for them, and how they've fared since. --Christopher Howse, Daily Telegraph

A well-written and handsomely presented book, certain to appeal to a wide readership. (...) The great strength of the book is in its wonderful colour pictures: of both familiar and unexpected subjects, and usually of higher quality than published before. BBC HISTORY MAGAZINE

My Easter book of the year...a magisterial compendium of this most elusive English vernacular form. SIMON JENKINS, THE GUARDIAN

One of the most interesting, useful and attractive books on the medieval church to appear for some time. (...) Well-written and accessible. BRITISH ARCHAEOLOGY

This is a book to be enjoyed and made use of by every person interested in our church heritage. THE ROUND TOWER MAGAZINE

(The author) has done us an invaluable service with his critical appreciation of this precious heritage. OXFORD TIMES

[A] hugely enjoyable book...big enough to accommodate detailed images of all but the most complex schemes, and as they are printed on quality paper, some of the details are superb. [...] Any church explorer will find much to delight them. --norfolkchurches.co.uk --Various

About the Author
ROGER ROSEWELL was educated at St Edmund Hall, Oxford University. A former journalist, he is a Director of a private European art foundation and the news editor of the online stained glass magazine, VIDIMUS.

Customer Reviews

Intriguing colorful pictures
The book is a beautiful collection of pictures of the remains of wall paintings and decorations in the Medieval Churches all in full color. What amazes is that the deteriorated pictures would not have been redone or painted over in all those years. There is an explanation of much that impacted them following the reformation. In general the pictures are interesting though the wall paintings are not beautiful as much as they are intriguing. This book gives us a glimpse into a past most would never have the time to experience by visiting the various churches included.