Medieval mural paintings represent one of the most precious parts of artistic heritage and a crucial source for studying the culture of the relevant times and places, everyday life, and beliefs. They are also helpful for the reconstruction of religious practices and sometimes even historical events. Even the most fragmented remains of medieval murals make for a crucial methodological tool for reconstructing the buildings’ architectural history. The present monograph includes 12 studies by researchers from the broader European area on the selected medieval mural paintings from the end of the 12th to the middle of the 15th century, and it also focuses on the reception of these murals in the 20th century. The monograph thus also brings significant insights into the previously often overlooked question of the interpretation and instrumentalisation of medieval art in the 20th century. The contributions provide several new datings and attributions and reveal many new findings in the fields of iconography, stylistic connections, models, mobility of artists and workshops, commissioning backgrounds, and reception. They also raise new questions and describe modern methodological approaches to studying medieval murals.

Some of the research also extends to technical analysis, restoration and conservation, as a full understanding of medieval murals requires not only their iconographic and stylistic evaluation, but also an insight into their material reality.