The Medieval Doom Painting

Holy Trinity Church

Fifteenth-century Doom Painting at Holy Trinity Church © Paul Gardner

The complex imagery draws on the Bible scriptures and other traditions, focussing on the same identifiable subjects: Christ in judgement, naked figures of the resurrected, and contrasting images of Heaven and Hell. 

The central focus of the of the Coventry Doom is Christ with hands raised in judgement, wounds to his body and a globe of the world at his feet. The twelve apostles are positioned either side of him. Angels blow the last trump. 

Figures, including popes, cardinals, kings and queens, rise from their tombs to be judged. The Virgin and St John the Baptist kneel beside Christ, interceding for souls. Steps to the doorway to Heaven, depicted as a large city, are diagonally opposite to the mouth of Hell, which contains souls licked by flames. 

Dr Miriam Gill, associate lecturer for the Vaughan Centre for Lifelong Learning at the University of Leicester 

The Doom Painting Imagery

The complex imagery draws on the Bible scriptures and other traditions, focussing on the same identifiable subjects: Christ in judgement, naked figures of the resurrected, and contrasting images of Heaven and Hell. 

The central focus of the of the Coventry Doom is Christ with hands raised in judgement, wounds to his body and a globe of the world at his feet. The twelve apostles are positioned either side of him. Angels blow the last trump. 

Figures, including popes, cardinals, kings and queens, rise from their tombs to be judged. The Virgin and St John the Baptist kneel beside Christ, interceding for souls. Steps to the doorway to Heaven, depicted as a large city, are diagonally opposite to the mouth of Hell, which contains souls licked by flames. 

Dr Miriam Gill, associate lecturer for the Vaughan Centre for Lifelong Learning at the University of Leicester 

Holy Trinity Doom cropped

Holy Trinity Doom with Christ as the central figure
© Photograph by Paul Gardner

Holy Trinity Doom Mouth of Hell

The terrifying Mouth of Hell
© Photograph by Paul Gardner

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