The Mass of Saint Gregory 1480 - 1490

This is an anonymous medieval illustration, entitled ‘The Mass of Saint Gregory’. Notice how the composition is vertically structured, layered with rows of figures and architectural elements that draw the eye upwards. The muted colour palette, dominated by ochre and earthy tones, is punctuated by the blues and reds of the ecclesiastic robes and the red border. These colours create a visual rhythm that animates the scene. The artist has used a complex semiotic system to signal the values that shape the religious event. The holy mass is taking place, made visible through the presence of the bleeding Christ, illustrating the belief that during mass, Christ's sacrifice is re-enacted. The artist has used a restricted range of colours and forms to convey complex religious ideas and structural beliefs about the world, which would have been understood by its original audience. In this sense, the painting serves not just as a work of art but as a powerful tool for communicating and reinforcing dominant cultural narratives.