Death and art

the long version

In Medieval and Renaissance Europe, where life expectancy was under forty and the Church taught that, after dying, the soul faced a terrifying and uncertain onward journey, death in Medieval and Renaissance Europe was a major preoccupation. This fascinating book sets out the beliefs surrounding death and the afterlife in a mainly Catholic Europe, and explores how these shaped attitudes to the visual arts. Townsend reveals how people of every background commissioned devotional works and wore protective jewellery; built tombs and went on pilgrimage - all to improve their soul's chances after death. Fully illustrated with images from a wide range of media including sculpture, jewellery and painting, this is a unique look at the art of death.