AS ICONOGRAFIAS MORALIZANTES DA IGREJA CATÓLICA E O ENSINO MEDIEVAL: UMA ANÁLISE DA INFLUÊNCIA DAS IMAGENS SACRAS NA FORMAÇÃO SOCIAL E MORAL NA IDADE MÉDIA

Abstract

This research analyzes the influence of Catholic Church sacred iconography on the moral and social formation of the Middle Ages, emphasizing the pedagogical use of sacred images as teaching tools. The study investigates how the Church utilized visual representations to disseminate moral values in a largely illiterate society, consolidating behavioral standards that shaped the collective imagination. Through an iconological analysis, the research examines two key representations: the bronze sculpture “Gates of Bern” (10th–11th centuries), located at the door of St. Michael's Cathedral, and the wall painting “Tree of Sin” (15th century) in St. Ethelber's Church. These artworks illustrate theological discourses and the prevailing mentality of the time. The selection of these images highlights how themes of sin theology were visually articulated to strengthen memory and devotion among the faithful, reinforcing a pedagogical system focused on moral orientation. The study applies Erwin Panofsky's iconographic analysis method (1991), structured on three levels: pre-iconographic description, iconographic analysis,and iconological interpretation. This methodology facilitates the interpretation of the symbolic and cultural content of sacred images and their pedagogical function in medieval education. The findings reveal that sacred iconography not only depicted moral transgressions but also reinforced Christian values and norms. It served as a didactic tool in a society deeply influenced by clerical authority. Beyond their aesthetic value, these sacred images played a crucial role in shaping the medieval collective imagination and contributed to the Church's religious and cultural hegemony.