The Church of the Holy Cross, Taivassalo

The medieval wall paintings of the Church of the Holy Cross in Taivassalo (Finland Proper) date around 1467–1470. There are also remains of earlier paintings from 1425–1440. Some of the paintings are copies made in the restoration of 1890´s and moved from their original location in the church; the Martyrdom of St Barbara and the Legend of St Erik among them. All the paintings were overpainted and Finnish texts added in the restoration. These paintings in Taivassalo Church are the first known ones by this group or workshop of painters, hence named "Taivassalo group". The motifs include martyr legends, images of saints, floral ornaments and patterns, apostles, hybrid creatures and corbel faces, among others.