Doom is the medieval English term for a painting in a church that depicts the Last Judgment, an event in Christian eschatological belief. Christ judges souls, and then sends them to either Heaven or Hell. Many Dooms survive in medieval churches dating from around the 12th to 16th centuries, although they were virtually standard in churches from much earlier than that.
Dooms were used to remind medieval Christians of the afterlife and Judgment Day...
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Doom is the medieval English term for a painting in a church that depicts the Last Judgment, an event in Christian eschatological belief. Christ judges souls, and then sends them to either Heaven or Hell. Many Dooms survive in medieval churches dating from around the 12th to 16th centuries, although they were virtually standard in churches from much earlier than that.
Dooms were used to remind medieval Christians of the afterlife and Judgment Day, and to help keep them mindful of sinning by showing in graphic detail the dramatic difference between Heaven and Hell. A Doom was usually sited either on the rear (Western) wall, if that had a suitable space, or at the front (Chancel end) of a church, often on the Chancel arch itself, so that it would be constantly in view of worshippers as they looked towards the Priest during services. This was a very effective method of influencing the illiterate majority.
Although there are many different versions of the theme, the theme's format stays...
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