Doom (painting)

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 either to 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 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 broadly the same. On the left side of a Doom painting (that is, on Christ's right hand) is Heaven, whilst on the right is Hell. At the top of the image Jesus Christ sits in glory with his (proper - ie on the left to the viewer) right hand encouraging the saved up and his left hand pointing down to Hell for the damned. Typically flanking him is Mary the Mother of Jesus on his right side and The Apostle John on the left, sometimes with the twenty-four elders mentioned in the Apocalypse encircling the three of them. The angels are blowing their trumpets to raise the dead for judgment. Commonly the Archangel Michael is depicted in the centre, with the scales he will use to weigh the souls of humanity to see if individually they are fit for Heaven: one person is on one side of the scale while demonic creatures that represent the sins committed by the person are on the other side of the scale. The creatures are trying to tip the scales in their favour while, in some versions of the painting, The Virgin Mary may have a rosary placed next to the person she wishes to protect or has her hand on the scale to counterbalance the demons' attempts.

Those who are worthy of Heaven are brought to the gates of Heaven, frequently represented by a castle with large walls built to keep out sinful impurities. This is most commonly depicted on the left hand side of Doom paintings. Groups of angels adorn the walls of Heaven celebrating the welcome possession of the Saved as they make their way to Heaven's gates where, waiting by the entrance, is The Apostle Peter who has a key he uses to open up the gates of Heaven for the Saved to come in and enjoy eternal rest and happiness and to be in God's presence forever.

Those who are unworthy of Heaven are depicted on the other side of the painting being seized by demons bringing them into the Hellmouth, beyond which, mostly out of sight, lie the bowels of Hell where endless pain and torment await them. The mouth of Hell is usually represented by a huge monster (Leviathan) with its fiery mouth open wide to receive the Damned as they are being forced into it. In some cases the demons have chains tied around the Damned who are helplessly being pulled in, while in others the Damned are being dragged or carried in. In yet other cases the Damned are brought into Hell while being forced to ride in wheelbarrows or carried in baskets.

External links

* [http://www.paintedchurch.org/doomcon.htm The Doom, or Last Judgement, and the Weighing of Souls: an Introduction]
* [http://members.aol.com/htchrch/Doompaintingphotos.html The Doom Painting restoration project from Holy Trinity Church in Coventry, England]
* [http://www.ecclsoc.org/mouthofhell.html Dooms and the mouth of hell in the late medieval period]
* [http://www.willpwr.demon.co.uk/St_Michaels_Doom/ 13th Century Doom Painting on Wood in St Michael's Church, St Albans, England]