Bleak cover, but unsurprising given the nature of the album.
Live - Throwing Copper (Radioactive/MCA, 1994) - Illustration by Peter Howson
The painting is called "Sisters of Mercy" and was painted by Howson in 1989. He explains the meaning of the painting in a 2005 Herald Scotland article:
This painting was done at a time when I was walking on the road to self-destruction [...] The man in the painting is blind, and he is troubled because there is no-one to guide him. He is clutching a red Bible, trying to find sanctuary in the cliff-edge church, but that is now derelict. Finally, he will be led over the edge and fall to his doom. The girls do not care and it is all a bit of fun for them. Obviously this is not my most optimistic creation, but I am glad when something moves people to question our existence.
Yeesh, take that as you may.
Fun fact: the original painting was sold at Christie's New York at a 2005 auction. The price? $186,000. Lucky Pete.
Image courtesy of Stereogum.