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Medieval wall paintings in England

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Images held within the Courtauld Institute’s ‘National Wall Paintings Survey’

Medieval wall paintings in England were vibrant artworks that adorned church interiors, depicting biblical stories and moral lessons for largely illiterate congregations. These paintings, created primarily from the 12th to the 16th centuries, used earth pigments and were often painted directly onto plaster walls, enhancing the spiritual atmosphere of the churches.

Due to the damage caused to the church’s post-medieval lath and plaster ceiling by death watch beetle, a 2002 study of the condition of the paintings that were exposed on the upper part of the nave walls concluded that: 

‘The fragments of wall paintings which have been uncovered are consistent with the early 13th century date of the church and are likely to be part of the original decorative scheme. It appears probable that the paintings extend under much of the plaster on the nave north and south wall and that an extensive scheme of decorative and, possibly, figurative painting will have survived. The fragments which are visible are of a high quality and this should be regarded as a significant and important discovery.’

‘St Mary’s Church, Moreton, Essex: Preliminary condition survey and recommendations for the conservation of the wall paintings’, Tobit Curteis associates

The uncovered images in St Mary’s largely feature vines. In the Bible, vines symbolise abundance, prosperity, and the relationship between God and his people, particularly Israel. They also represent spiritual truths, such as obedience to God and the consequences of disobedience.

Deteriorating wall with peeling paint, exposed plaster, and crumbling corner with visible dirt and debris.
Close-up of a damaged and peeling section of an old painted wall showing layers of paint and plaster with cracks and discoloration.
Broken wall with exposed bricks and a worn-down painted surface featuring a faded, partially visible logo or design.
Close-up of a corner of a wall with old paint and plaster, showing a partially removed or damaged section revealing underlying construction material and markings.
Old, damaged wall with a faded decorative mural in red and pink hues, partially covered with dirt and crumbling plaster.
Close-up of a section of a wall with exposed wooden studs, damaged drywall, and visible insulation, with a metal pipe running horizontally in the foreground.

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