Publisher's Synopsis
Upon entering a 14th or 15th century Swedish church one often finds the walls and ceilings covered with rather simple, almost primitive, paintings. Most have traditional religious motifs that were used to explain Bible stories to the mostly illiterate members of the congregations in medieval times. But in a number of churches, particularly in the Lake Mälaren Valley provinces of eastern Sweden and on the island of Gotland, intermingled with these familiar motifs, one is surprised to find paintings that reach beyond religious stories to portray folktales and legends, as well as rules for social behavior. These take numerous forms, from devils to fantasy figures to various warning situations. Many times with subtle humor. It is these unexpected, non-traditional paintings, with their myriad of small details, that are the subject of this book.
