The subject of this book arises from recent developments in the inventory, preservation and study of mural paintings from the Middle Ages and the Renaissance, particularly those from what can be considered the periphery of Europe. The aim of this book is to demonstrate the vitality that the study of wall painting in peripheral regions can bring to the discipline of Art History. The articles collected in this book are overwhelmingly about wall paintings that would be hard pressed to be considered part of the master narrative of Art History. They are studies regarding regions and themes that are rarely present in the mainstream of the discipline, but their common thread is their focus on the functional dimension of mural paintings and on the complex interrelation between image, audience, social context and everyday life. From Denmark to Portugal, from graffiti to secular painting, from the orthodox monasteries of Moldavia to the noble residences of Tirol, from Giotto to anonymous and sometimes almost amateur painters, the studies gathered in this book place very distinct artistic realities side by side offering complementary perspectives and insights.The book will make a valuable contribution to the literature on Medieval and Renaissance mural painting, combining theoretical essays with others more descriptive. As the eighteen studies collected in this book deal with paintings from a range of European regions, from Denmark to Portugal and Romania, the book will find its way in Europe and abroad, both in the field of art history and that of Medieval and Early Modern history. The wealth of plates and figures will make the book also accessible to a broad audience interested in the history of painting, architecture and cultural heritage.
