This detail from the painting depicts purgatory, with the Ladder of Souls to the left of the image. In the centre, two large demonic beasts are torturing doomed souls who are made to perform fruitless labours while balancing on a spiked rail. The small figure below, being poked by the pitchforks of two smaller demons, is thought to represent a soul guilty of the sin of Avarice; the soul is counting coins that fall from his mouth. To his right, three figures represent the sin of Envy; an older figure is envious of the youth of the other figures. The visual translation of Biblical texts in this Purgatorial Ladder painting is thought to be unique in England, if not the world. The Church of St Peter and St Paul dates from the eleventh century, with most of the fabric dating to the twelfth and early thirteenth century.
This is part of the Series: AAA02/01 Series of coloured slides; within the Collection: AAA02 Art and Architecture Archive
© Graham Cooper and Doug Sargent
Medieval Church, Medieval Wall Painting
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