The little church was built in three stages during the 13th century but
in spite of this it shows a harmoniously proportioned architecture. At the
thorough restoration about 1970 there appeared under plaster and paintings
from later times a magnificent series of apostles and other figures from
about 1260-70 on all the walls of the chancel and the nave; around the rood
arch is a composition with the Coronation of the Virgin at the top and several
saints at the sides. Here the painter has made a curious iconographical
mistake: next to the Coronation he has put John the Baptist and the Virgin-as
in a representation of the Last Judgement-, thus making the Virgin adore
herself! The paintings are attributed to the prominent "Michael master"
and a helpmate, later to make a similar decoration by himself in Lärbro.
Some 15th century paintings by the "Passion master" had to yield
to the works of the "Michael master"; only St George and St Martin
have been left.
Photo Hans Hemlin
Text Dr. Bengt G Söderberg
©1997 Created by Sören_Gannholm