MtTRAL PAINTINGS IN CORNISH CHtTRCHES. 137 



At tlie time of the reformation, texts were ordered to be 

 painted over the pictures, and the successive numerous coats of 

 whitewash hid the mediseval mural decorations from view, so 

 that, except in a few cases, no remains were visible, although it 

 may be assumed that nearly all pre-reformation churches had their 

 walls adorned with paintings, and in cases where the original 

 whitewash remains, that under it they still exist. It is to 

 be hoped that a diligent search will be made for them in those 

 churches which have not yet been restored. 



In the middle ages, The Crucifixion and the Last Judgment 

 were the favorite subjects connected with our Lord. There 

 were representations of The Crucifixion, at Lanivet, St. Clement, 

 St. Columb Major, and Talland, all now destroyed; whilst a 

 figure of Christ stanching his wounds, surrounded by imple- 

 ments of trade, etc., was at Lanivet ; and another painting of the 

 same subject (Representative Christian) is at each of the churches 

 of Breage (which possesses the finest set of mural paintings in 

 Cornwall), St. Just-in-Penwith, and Poundstock. 



At Talland, in addition to the Crucifixion, were paintings of 

 Our Lord and the Woman of Samaria and The Miraculous 

 draught of fishes, whilst at St. Clement were The flight into 

 Egypt and The Entry into Jerusalem ; all these now being 

 destroyed. At Linkinhorne was a figure of our Lord surrounded 

 by the Seven Acts of Mercy. 



The composition known as the Doom — Our Lord seated on 

 the rainbow in Judgment — His mother kneeling on his right 

 pleading for mankind ; below, St. Michael weighing souls ; the 

 dead rising, with companies of souls passing to take their 

 place on Christ's right or being dragged down by demons on the 

 left into the mouth of hell (usually represented by the jaws of 

 an immense fish) was a favorite. It was often painted over the 

 chancel arch, but no instance is recorded in Cornwall. Was it 

 for the lack in our churches of the space which was usually thus 

 utilized ? 



No doubt there were many representations of the Virgin in 

 our churches, but none have been clearly identified in the 

 X^aintings existing at present. The mutilated statue at St Sennen 

 is probably one. 



