To return to Master page click on ‘Guild Chapel’ above.

SLHS: 3 - Dance Of Death

Full Wall Fresco

Supporting the main theme of the other paintings The Dance Of Death sets out the fact that all of us, of whatever status, will die at some point. None are spared and must go to meet their maker.

The first painting of such was made in the Cemetery Of The Innocents in Paris in 1424. The wealthy London town clerk, John Carpenter, saw it and in 1430 commissioned the same for the Pardon Churchyard at St Paul’s Cathedral in London. Hugh Clopton, being Lord Mayor, would’ve been familiar with this area and, we surmise, requested that a copy be painted in Stratford.

Located on the North wall.

● These items have aspects that uniquely contribute to national or world history.

Poem: Dança General de la Muerte - Danse Macabre - Dance Of Death

There is a Spanish poem of this name dated 1390 but there’s evidence of even earlier renditions (see Further Information below). Versions in French became well known. Other similar poems, mimicking the style, were written in many countries around Europe in mediaeval times. For example by Charles Beaudelaire in 1906 (translation to English is above).

Dance Of Death as recorded by Wilfrid Puddephat 1955

Dance Of Death (translated)   Charles Beaudelaire 1906

Instances

Again we are indebted to Puddephat for the care that he took in recording what he saw. From this we are now able to see that each section of the double height frieze was an individual warning.

In the example to the right, from the top row and 14’ from the left, neither the Pope nor the King are exempt from God’s Judgement and skeletons lead them, in all their pomp, for the same inspection as any other human being.

Detail of Puddephat’s vast drawing

Opinion

If one considers the detail in The Doom, this frieze and all the other decorations some serious conclusions must be drawn:

1. •huge amounts of precious paint and solvent were required
   

2. •significant numbers drawing plans must have been discussed
   

3. •there were decades of man-years of work to do
   

4. •one main artist because the style is consistent throughout
   

5. •yet the main artist could not do all the work
   

6. •so quite a few senior artists would be needed
   

7. •there must have been people to prepare the base stone/plaster
   

8. •they would need paint mixers (often trainees)
   

9. •time was needed between coats and adjacent colours
   

10. •shading artists would come later to give depth to the flat contours
    

11. •work could be held up for lack of supplies
    

12. •the Latin must be perfect so proof readers were required
    

None of this could take place until the building was built and so my estimate of 20 years construction time will be conservative.

Click icon for more..