Coronation of the Virgin Tympanum (Malbork Castle)

This polychrome stone tympanum features Christ seated on the right, placing a crown on the head of the kneeling Virgin Mary. They are flanked by small angels playing lutes and fiddles. Below this central scene, a horizontal row shows a procession of figures; on the right side, a small, naked, horned demon figure drags a soul toward the open, beast-like mouth of Hell (the Hellmouth). The relief is framed by a decorative arch filled with small, recurring sculptural figures of birds and foliage.

This sculpture represents the transition between earthly life and the afterlife, a central theme in late medieval iconography and Catholic eschatology. The inclusion of the Hellmouth connects to the medieval tradition of 'The Infernal' and the vivid visual warnings common in 14th and 15th-century ecclesiastical architecture regarding the Last Judgment.