Yorkshire Philosophical Society

Event Information

Seeing and believing: Antiquarian attitudes to medieval wall paintings

Kate Giles, Department of Archaeology, University of York

The wall paintings of Pickering church, North Yorkshire, have long held a fascination for Yorkshire Antiquarians and tourists.  The history of the discovery, destruction, restoration and conservation of this scheme of paintings is the story of many medieval wall paintings in the UK.  This lecture will share the results of new research on the paintings by the University of York, which is highlighting the national significance of this local example.

Report

Pickering church’s wall paintings, perhaps the most complete series in England, are justly renowned. They originally dated from the mid-15th century; were covered over at the Reformation; were rediscovered badly degraded in 1852; were feared a distraction to the congregation and immediately given a fresh coat of whitewash; then were re-exposed in 1870s restorations. However, where today we are happy to find medieval authenticity in mere fragments, Pickering’s Victorians preferred to have the entire story, and repainted them in full. Nikolaus Pevsner decided fifty years ago that “as the paintings had never been great art, it is perhaps better to see them now clearly than to see their original brushwork dimly.” Commenting that the Victorians filled in the gaps but did not alter the iconography, Dr Giles agreed. Her particular delight was in the realisation that, perhaps uniquely, the cycle was arranged to form a liturgical calendar within the church.

Bob Hale