ELI5: Why Are There So Many Religious Paintings?

There are so many religious paintings because long ago, they worked like modern picture books and television to teach people important stories they could not read for themselves.

Imagine waking up hundreds of years ago, long before phones, TV, or the internet existed. In those days, everyday life was very different:

• Almost nobody could read: Most regular moms, dads, and kids never went to school. If you wanted to know the rules of your town or the stories of your faith, you couldn't just open a book. Paintings on church walls were like giant comic books that told the stories using pictures instead of words.
• The church was the center of everything: The local church was not just a place to pray; it was where people met their neighbors, heard the news, and celebrated holidays. Because everyone went there every week, leaders decorated the walls with art so people would look at them constantly, just like looking at billboards or screens today.
• Artists needed a job: Making art was expensive. Long ago, regular people did not have money to buy fancy paints, which were made from crushed gems and gold. The church and wealthy kings were the only ones with enough money to pay painters. If an artist wanted to buy food and pay rent, they had to paint what the buyers wanted: religious scenes.
• Safety and hope: Everyday life was hard back then. People got sick easily, and winters were freezing. Looking at beautiful paintings of angels and heroes gave families comfort and hope that someone was watching over them.