We were wandering around Salisbury and saw this old church and felt drawn to it, and after taking outside photos felt compelled to go inside. As we entered someone said to us, "take a look at the Doom painting". I wandered around looking here and there and could not find it, then saw a minister and asked and he took me to it, pointing upwards. It turned into one of the more interesting places we visited in Salisbury.
Inside the church, on the arch, separating the Nave from the Chancel is a beautiful painting of the last judgement, painted around the year 1475. The practice of painting the last judgement on the arch was apparently common in medieval churches. This one was special in being the largest and one of the best preserved of its kind.
The painting’s state of preservation was apparently due to the fact that it was whítewashed over and forgotten for hundreds of years until rediscovered in the 19th century.
The painting depicts, souls rising from the grave and ascending to the throne of judgement, and on the opposite side, those found wanting descending into hell, as symbolised by being swallowed by a great leviathan.
It can be noted that among those descending are bishops in their mitres and kings in their crowns. This was, to say the least, politically incorrect at a time when “the Church” was to be seen as the direct representatives of God, and Kings were seen as ruling by divine right (as interpreted by said church). Because of this politically incorrect content, the painting was covered with whítewash.
The fact that it was this attempt to eradicate the painting, was the primary reason for its preservation, is a fine example of the “law of unintended consequences; and a cautionary tale for those today who try to stifle ideas because of “political correctness”. Might they too only be whíte washing over issues, which can only be truly addressed through open debate? Will the whíte wash they are applying cóme off, to reveal that the issue stíll remains?
Inside the church, on the arch, separating the Nave from the Chancel is a beautiful painting of the last judgement, painted around the year 1475. The practice of painting the last judgement on the arch was apparently common in medieval churches. This one was special in being the largest and one of the best preserved of its kind.
The painting’s state of preservation was apparently due to the fact that it was whítewashed over and forgotten for hundreds of years until rediscovered in the 19th century.
The painting depicts, souls rising from the grave and ascending to the throne of judgement, and on the opposite side, those found wanting descending into hell, as symbolised by being swallowed by a great leviathan.
It can be noted that among those descending are bishops in their mitres and kings in their crowns. This was, to say the least, politically incorrect at a time when “the Church” was to be seen as the direct representatives of God, and Kings were seen as ruling by divine right (as interpreted by said church). Because of this politically incorrect content, the painting was covered with whítewash.
The fact that it was this attempt to eradicate the painting, was the primary reason for its preservation, is a fine example of the “law of unintended consequences; and a cautionary tale for those today who try to stifle ideas because of “political correctness”. Might they too only be whíte washing over issues, which can only be truly addressed through open debate? Will the whíte wash they are applying cóme off, to reveal that the issue stíll remains?
