Skärselden i bilder, Makten över själarna

Abstract

This essay examines how art could be used to bring forth and clarify the Catholic doctrines of purgatory. The research questions are: • How are the Catholic Church’s doctrines of purgatory illustrated in art? • How can the paintings affect the viewer and his/her notion on how to shorten the time in purgatory? How can art itself be used as a tool to achieve that goal? The timeframe of the chosen paintings is mainly 14th to 16th century but an overview of how the purgatory has been illustrated after that time until the present is also given. In order to answer the first research question, a painting from the 14th century has been analysed, using a method inspired by Patterns of Intention - a theoretical framework formulated by Michel Baxandall. A reception theoretic perspective according to Kemp, is used on a painting from the 15th century to answer the second research question. The results show that purgatory is illustrated as fire and the souls are depicted as living people, despite that a spiritual condition is visualized. The viewers at that time found the descriptions frightening, but the paintings also revealed ways of being granted indulgences, that is shorten-ing the time in purgatory. These ways were praying, making pilgrimages and giving alms. The results also show that certain artistic motives in paintings and sculptures were used for wor-shipping since praying in front of them also granted indulgence.