The Harrowing of Hell was never formally initiated as a Project. There were, however, various preparatory ideas and possibly some paintings.

Lenkiewicz began talking about his ideas for this project a few years before his death. It was apparently going to be a small project, one of a few that Lenkiewcz intended to work on once Project 20 was completed.

The paintings were going to be chiefly grisailles.

It is believed that the first painting intended for this project may have been produced as early as 1993, It was a large tryptich featuring Lenkiewicz sitting cross-legged on the floor, painted in grisaille with swirling masses of white cloth above him which spread onto the left and right panels.

There were a small number of paintings found in a private studio after Lenkiewicz's death which looked like they could have been part of this theme.

It is possible that some of the preparatory thought and work for The Harrowing of Hell might have informed the Blind Tobit Project.