Michelangelo's The Last Judgement | Art Explained

Summary

Michelangelo's 'The Last Judgment' fresco in the Sistine Chapel is a monumental work teeming with symbolism and narrative. It depicts Christ's second coming and the final judgment of humanity, featuring a dynamic and tumultuous scene filled with saints, martyrs, and the damned. The fresco is marked by its complex compositions, expressive figures, and controversial elements such as nudity, which led to censorship over time. Michelangelo's masterpiece is a reflection of the religious and ideological turmoil of the Renaissance, offering a profound and intense visual experience that continues to captivate viewers.

Takeaways

• 🎨 'The Last Judgment' is a monumental fresco painted by Michelangelo for the Sistine Chapel, filled with secret meanings and symbolism.
• 🌟 The central figure of Jesus is depicted without a beard, which was a deliberate artistic choice by Michelangelo.
• 🔍 The man with the skin in his hand is Saint Bartholomew, who is also shown holding his own flayed skin, symbolizing his martyrdom.
• 👿 The figure with donkey ears represents Minos, the king of Crete in Greek mythology, and is included as a judge of the underworld in Hell.
• 🌐 The composition of the fresco contrasts the harmonious Heavenly World with the chaotic Earthly Zone, reflecting the turmoil of the Last Judgment.
• 👥 Michelangelo's portrayal of the saints and apostles around Christ is dynamic, with expressive gestures indicating their active participation in the judgment.
• 👁️ The painting invites the viewer to engage with the scene, as if they are witnessing the immense catastrophe of the final judgment.
• 🔝 Above Christ, a group of elect individuals are ascending towards heaven, while on the opposite side, the damned are being dragged down to Hell.
• 🔥 The depiction of Hell is intense, with figures in torment and despair, reflecting the brutality of the demons and the tragedy of the sinners.
• 🖼️ The fresco was controversial due to its nudity and artistic liberties taken by Michelangelo, leading to censorship and alterations over time.
• 🖌️ The restoration of the fresco in the 1980s and 1990s removed centuries of grime and revealed hidden details, including some of the censorship that had been painted over.

Q & A

What is the subject of Michelangelo's 'The Last Judgment' fresco?

The Last Judgment depicts the second coming of Christ and the final and eternal judgment by God of old Humanity.

What is unique about the arrangement and posing of the figures in 'The Last Judgment'?

The arrangement and posing of the figures give an impression of agitation and excitement, with a profound disturbance, tension, and commotion even in the upper parts of the painting.

Why is Jesus presented without a beard in the fresco?

The script does not provide a specific reason for Jesus being presented without a beard, but it could be a stylistic choice by Michelangelo to portray a youthful and divine image of Christ.

Who is the man with the skin in his hand in the fresco?

The man with the skin in his hand is Saint Bartholomew, who was martyred by being flayed alive, hence he is depicted holding his own flayed skin.

What is the significance of the figure of a demon with donkey ears?

The figure of a demon with donkey ears is Biagio da Cesena, the Pope's Master of Ceremonies, portrayed by Michelangelo as an infernal judge with donkey ears and a snake biting his sexual organ, possibly as a critique or satire.

What does the gesture of 'ostentatio vulnerum' signify in the fresco?

The 'ostentatio vulnerum' is the display of the wounds of Christ's crucifixion, shown as the resurrected Christ reveals his wounds as part of the individual verdicts of the Last Judgment.

Why is the Virgin Mary depicted as she is in relation to Christ in the fresco?

The Virgin Mary is depicted turning Herod to look down towards the saved, suggesting her role as an intercessor and her resignation in the face of Humanity's Destiny.

What is the controversy surrounding the nudity in 'The Last Judgment'?

The nudity in the fresco was controversial because critics during the Catholic Counter-Reformation felt it was inappropriate and did not adhere to proper decorum, and some aspects did not follow the scriptural description of the event.

How were the genitalia in the fresco altered after Michelangelo's death?

The genitalia in the fresco were painted over with drapery by the mannerist painter Daniele da Volterra, likely after Michelangelo's death in 1564, to meet the criticism and the Counter-Reformation attitudes towards art.

What does the dynamic and violent scene of the damned being dragged to hell represent?

The scene represents the brutality of demons, the tragedy of Sinners, and the climax of intensity and violence, reflecting the torment, remorse, despair, fear, and inner anguish of each damned person.

What is the significance of the geometric shapes used by Michelangelo in the composition of the fresco?

The geometric shapes, such as ellipses and concentric circles, give the fresco a three-dimensionality and balance, symbolizing the medieval tradition of a geometer God and the cosmic order amidst chaos.

Outlines

00:00

🎨 The Last Judgment: Michelangelo's Masterpiece

The Last Judgment, a fresco painted by Michelangelo for the Sistine Chapel, is a colossal artwork teeming with hidden meanings. The video explores the symbolism behind Jesus' beardless appearance, the man with the skin in his hand, and the demon with donkey ears. It discusses the portrayal of Christ's Second Coming and the final judgment of humanity, contrasting the orderly heavenly world with the chaotic earthly one. Michelangelo's depiction is marked by a sense of agitation and excitement, with even the heavenly figures showing tension. The central figure of Christ is surrounded by a dynamic arrangement of saints, apostles, and other figures, each displaying a range of emotions. The video also delves into the identification of specific figures, such as Saint Lawrence, Saint Andrew, and Saint John the Baptist, and the complex gestures and expressions that convey the anticipation of humanity's destiny.

05:01

🌪️ The Dynamic Depiction of the Afterlife

This segment of the video focuses on the detailed portrayal of the afterlife in Michelangelo's fresco. It describes the 11 wingless angels symbolizing the end of time, the resurrection of the dead, and the fulfillment of prophetic scriptures. The figures are rendered with expressive fatigue and breath, indicating the effort of announcing the apocalypse. The scene of the resurrection is depicted with figures emerging from the earth, regaining corporality, and expressing the exhaustion of awakening. The elect are shown ascending to sainthood, while the damned are violently dragged to hell by demons. The video highlights the intense struggle and the emotional turmoil of the damned, as well as the geometric composition of the scene, which includes concentric circles and triangles that balance the figures of saints and sinners. The controversial aspects of the fresco, such as the nudity and the artistic liberties taken by Michelangelo, are also discussed, along with the historical censorship and restoration efforts.

10:03

🔥 The Controversies and Symbolism of The Last Judgment

The final paragraph delves into the controversies and hidden symbolism within Michelangelo's The Last Judgment. It discusses the objections to the artwork's nudity and the incorporation of pagan elements, such as the figures of Charon and Minos, and the wingless angels. The video also touches upon the classical and Apollonian interpretation of Christ's figure. Michelangelo's personal doubts and the crisis of Christianity during the Renaissance are reflected in the chaotic and unstable depiction of the judgment scene. The video suggests that the artwork represents a universal level of the artist's personal torments and the religious and political turmoil of the time. It also mentions the restoration of the fresco, which removed censorship and revealed hidden details, and the identification of specific figures, such as Minos and Bartholomew, which carry personal significance for Michelangelo. The video concludes by suggesting that the painting's chaotic and overwhelming depiction of the last judgment still resonates with viewers today.

Keywords

💡Last Judgment

The Last Judgment is a fresco painted by Michelangelo in the Sistine Chapel, depicting the second coming of Christ and the final judgment of humanity. It illustrates the separation of the blessed and the damned, as Christ judges all souls. This work is central to the video, as it represents a visual portrayal of eternal salvation or damnation, with tension between chaos and divinity.

💡Christ

Christ is the central figure in Michelangelo’s fresco, depicted without a beard and positioned in the center of the composition, making judgments about humanity. His raised hand symbolizes the display of the crucifixion wounds. Christ’s depiction deviates from traditional portrayals, reflecting Michelangelo's unique interpretation of divine judgment and authority.

💡Virgin Mary

The Virgin Mary is shown beside Christ, observing the judgment with resignation. Her figure symbolizes compassion and devotion, though her gesture suggests that her intercessory role has ended. This contrasts with traditional depictions of Mary as an active mediator between humanity and Christ.

💡Saints and Apostles

Saints and apostles form a crown around Christ and Mary, each participating in the judgment with expressions of fear or anguish. Figures like Saint John the Baptist and Saint Peter are easily identifiable by their attributes, such as camel hair and keys, respectively. Their presence highlights the religious significance of the event.

💡Angels with trumpets

The angels in the fresco are depicted blowing trumpets to announce the end of time, echoing the biblical description of the apocalypse. Positioned beneath Christ, these angels awaken the dead for judgment. Their swollen cheeks and strained expressions convey the immense effort of their task, aligning with the theme of divine intervention.

💡Hell

Hell is depicted in the lower right section of the fresco, a chaotic scene filled with demons and the damned. Michelangelo portrays the suffering of sinners, with references to Dante's 'Divine Comedy,' including Charon and Minos. The brutality of the demons contrasts with the heavenly order above, symbolizing eternal punishment.

💡Karon and Minos

Karon and Minos are mythological figures Michelangelo incorporated into his Christian-themed fresco. Karon is the boatman who ferries the damned to Hell, while Minos is the judge with a serpent coiled around him. Their inclusion reflects Michelangelo’s blending of pagan and Christian elements, which was controversial for its time.

💡Martyrs and Confessors

Martyrs and confessors are depicted in both upper and lower sections of the fresco, represented by their symbols of martyrdom, such as Saint Sebastian with arrows. These figures express the conflict between divine salvation and human suffering, adding layers of spiritual struggle to the visual narrative.

💡Nudity

Nudity in the fresco sparked controversy, as many critics during the Counter-Reformation found it indecorous for a religious work. Michelangelo's portrayal of nude figures, particularly in scenes of judgment, was later censored. The nudity is symbolic of humanity’s vulnerability and exposure before God during judgment.

💡Counter-Reformation

The Counter-Reformation refers to the Catholic Church's response to the Protestant Reformation, which influenced the criticism of Michelangelo’s fresco. Religious authorities, particularly during the Council of Trent, deemed certain elements of the fresco inappropriate. This led to censorship, including the addition of drapery over the nude figures.

Highlights

The Last Judgment is a fresco by Michelangelo with secret meanings.

Jesus is depicted without a beard, which is unusual.

A man with skin in his hand represents Saint Bartholomew.

A demon with donkey ears symbolizes a Pope's Master of Ceremonies.

The fresco depicts the Second Coming of Christ and the final judgment.

The composition contrasts the Heavenly World with the Earthly Zone.

Michelangelo's figures show agitation and excitement.

Christ's central figure is surrounded by a rotary movement.

The Virgin Mary is portrayed to the left of Christ.

The first crown of saints includes figures like Saint Lawrence and Saint Andrew.

The second crown features Martyrs, Confessors, and other blessed figures.

The lower part of the fresco shows the resurrection of the dead.

The right side depicts the elect ascending towards the saints.

The damned are shown being dragged to hell by demons.

Hell is represented with a red sky of flames and figures in torment.

The fresco's three-dimensionality is achieved through a stack of ellipses.

The work was controversial for its nudity and artistic liberties.

Censorship led to the covering of genitalia by Daniele da Volterra.

The fresco was restored in the 1980s, revealing hidden details.

The figure of Minos has a snake biting his sexual organ, symbolizing punishment.

The face on the skin of Bartholomew is believed to be a self-portrait of Michelangelo.

The work reflects Michelangelo's personal doubts during a crisis in Christianity.

The fresco represents chaos and instability, contrasting traditional iconography.

Transcripts

the last judgment is a fresco created by

Michelangelo for the Sistine Chapel this

work of monumental size is full of

secret meanings why is Jesus presented

without a beard who is the man with the

skin in his hand who is represented in

the figure of a demon with donkey ears

what did Michelangelo want to

communicate with this prescope all these

questions will be answered in this video

it is a depiction of the second coming

of Christ and the final and eternal

judgment by God of old Humanity where

traditional compositions generally

contrast unordered harmonious Heavenly

World about with the tumultuous event

taking place in the Earthly Zone Below

in Michelangelo's conception the

arrangement and posing of the figure

across the entire painting give an

impression of agitation and excitement

and even the upper Parts there is a

profound disturbance tension and

commotion in the figures some Scholars

interpret their complex responses as

those of giant Powers hear me made

powerless Bound by breaking spiritual

anxiety as they role of intercessor with

the deity had come to an end and perhaps

they regret some of the verdicts there

is an impression that old group of

figures are signing the central figure

of Christ in a huge rotary movement at

the center of the work is Christ shown

as the individual verdicts of the last

judgment are pronounced he looks down

towards themed here the raised hand is

part of the gesture of ostentatio

vulnerum display of the wounds where the

resurrected Christ reveals the wounds of

his crucifixion which can be seen in

Michelangelo's figure to the left of

Christ is his mother Virgin Mary who

turns Herod to look down towards the

saved though her pose also suggests

resignation around the two central

figure there is a first crown of saints

Patriots and apostles made up of

innumerable figure were connected in a

dense sequence of gestures all the main

figures participate actively and emotion

nationally in the Judgment with facial

expression and hand gestures which show

anguish fear or upheaval before the

Fulfillment of Humanity's Destiny

involving The Spectator to the immense

catastrophe it is difficult to name all

these figures some Scholars have tried

to understand who they were based on

visible symbols among these we see that

in the left portion at feet of Christ

there is a Lawrence with the Grill Saint

Andrew naked from behind with cross in

his hand San John the Baptist in a

predominant position recognizable by his

camel hair mantle he is next to a boy

who is difficult to identify and in

front of a lying bearded old man perhaps

apacheck santanjo turns to involve a

woman difficult to interpret perhaps

Rachel in the group on the right some

Peter stands out with the two keys of

paradise which are represented to its

only owner because they will no longer

be used to open and follows the Deeds of

Heaven next to him the other figure must

be sample with a red cloth while the

naked young man closest to Genesis is

hypothetically an apostle perhaps John

the Evangelist the second Crown is made

up of Martyrs confessors of the church

virgins and other blessed in the group

on the left we see almost exclusively

women The Virgins the signals and the

heroines of the Old Testament the

Monumental woman in the foreground

stands out with their breasts uncovered

who has a protective gesture towards

another who approaches her embracing her

hips they haven't been identified as the

personification of the merciful church

and the devote one a dynamic sense of

the figure is captured with some of the

lower band being helped to ascend to the

upper one continuing that upward motion

which in the lower band regards the

blast from this side the group on the

right is made up of Martyrs confessors

and other blessed with a predominance of

Main figures on the extreme ride a

powerful man is shown holding across

hathered by others he has been

identified as the Syrian who helped

Christ on the way to Calvary or as

nismas the good thief below him Rises

kneeling and with one foot resting on a

cloud San Sebastian holding the arrows

of his martyrdom with his left arm

stretching forward while pointing to his

chest with his right hand a little

further to the left are two of the most

controversial figures Sun Blaze with the

nail comes with which he was martyred

and tank entering of Alexandria with the

broken [ __ ] wheel at this same hate

proceeding to the left San Philip with

the cross Simon the Zealot with the soul

and longinus seen from behind the pen

below can be divided into five parts in

the center the angels with trumpets and

books announcing the End of Time the

Awakening of the death the rise of the

elect the expulsion of the Damned and

Hell under the figure of Christ we see

11 Angels without wings announcing the

End of Time Awakening the Dead with the

trumpets of the apocalypse and showing

Humanity the prophetic books of the Holy

Scripture that come true very well known

are these figures of idolized beauty

rendered with extreme expressiveness

especially those who play in fact their

cheeks are swollen with breath and their

eyes ruled with fatigue to the left of

it the resurrection of the bodies takes

place in a wasteland they come out of

the towns and recover their corporality

in attitudes that well Express a tiring

Awakening from the torpor of the abyss

and return to Consciousness we see men

emerging from the earth others pushing

up The Rock's Labs that cover the thumb

still others coming out of crevasses

sometimes dressed sometimes naked

sometimes in the middle of the

transformation still composed of only

the Skeleton on the right some figures

in flight form a connection with the

upper area we see in particular two

bodies disputed between angels and

Devils coming out of the Cave the upper

part is occupied by a group of the elect

who Ascend towards the rank of saints

some fly others seems to be propelled or

kidnapped by an uncontrollable Force

others are helped by angels and others

blessed in various ways on the opposite

side the scene is balanced by the part

of the tent who fighting against their

combination are inexorably driven back

to hell it is one of the most dynamic

and violent points of the entire

representation with clusters of figures

who are fighting now emerging in the

foreground the angels beat with their

fists while the demons dragged them

toward the abyss by any means isolated

on the left is the group with a seated

damned man who covers his face while the

Devils drag him down he is probably an

emblem of this space finally at the

bottom right there is the representation

of Hell against the background of a red

sky of flames on the left karon together

with the demons beats and forces the

Damned to get off his boat to let them

to the infernal judge minus with his

body wrapped in the calls of the serpent

the reference to Hell from Dante's

Divine Comedy is evident in this part

the brutality of demons the tragedy of

Sinners trigger a climax of intensity

and violence Michelangelo dwelled on the

torment remorse despair fear and inner

anguish of each damned person arranging

Heaven and Earth with geometric shapes

comes from the medieval tradition of a

geometer God Michelangelo created this

Fresco working in two and three

dimensions the Fresco has a

three-dimensionality demonstrated by a

stack of ellipses but also a

two-dimensional design with a series of

concentric circles just like Dante Young

imagined Heaven from the center of Saint

John the Baptist and some Peter we can

draw two circles from the intersection

of these there is Christ contained in

the Mandola if we draw another Circle we

can see that the angels with trumpets

are also contained in this balanced form

also the angels are arranged on a

triangular base pointing upwards at

Christ but if we pay even more attention

we see that another downward facing

triangle can be formed which interlocks

the angels are positioned in the center

between the saint and those who would

fail into hell making the composition as

if they were a balance the last judgment

became controversial as soon as it was

seen with disputes between critics in

the Catholic Counter Reformation and

supporters of the genius of the artist

and the style of the painting

Michelangelo was accused of being

intensive to proper decorum in respect

of the nudity and other aspects of the

work and of pursuing artistic effect

over following the scriptural

description of the event the Angels

blowing trumpets are only one group

whereas in the book of the Revelation

they are sent to the four corners of the

earth Christ is not Seated on a throne

contrary to scripture such draperies as

Michelangelo painted are often shown as

blown by wind but it was claimed that

old weather would cease on the day of

judgment two decades after the Fresco

was completed the final session of the

Council of Trent in 1563 finally enacted

a form of words that reflected the

counter-reformation attitudes to Art

some action to meet the criticism and

enact the constant's decision had become

inevitable and the genitalia in the

Fresco were painted over with drapery by

the mannerist painter Daniela davultera

probably mostly after Michelangelo died

in 1564. he also Jesus away and entirely

repainted the larger part of Saint

Catherine and the entire figure of sand

Blaze behind her this was done because

in the original version some Blaze had

appeared to look at Catherine's naked

behind and because to some Observer the

position of their bodies suggested

sexual intercourse the repainted version

shows Blaze looking away from San

Catherine upwards towards Christ the

Fresco was restored along with the 16

volt between 1980 and 1994. during the

course of the restoration about Alpha of

the censorship of the Fig Leaf campaign

was removed numerous pieces of burn

details caught under the smoke and grime

of scores of years were revealed after

the restoration hidden symbols in the

figure of minus Michelangelo portrayed

the Pope's Master of Ceremonies by

dachizena who after observing the

working progress was shocked by the

naked and contorted bodies in the work

defining them treatable for thermal

baths rather than the chapel pontifical

Michelangelo who as we know did not like

to practice portraiture made an

exception at the time by portraying him

as an infernal judge moreover with

donkey ears and with a snake which

instead of helping him in the Judgment

of attempt punishes him by biting his

sexual organ this man is saying

bartolomew who was martyred after being

schemed alive therefore he's not only

holding the knife he used to Flay him

but his own flesh too it's widely

believed that the face on the skin is

actually a self-portrait of Michelangelo

Bartholomew's face on the other hand has

been indicated as a possible portrait of

Pietro aritino Michelangelo's sworn

anime the descending figures in the last

judgment make her respond to the seven

deadly sins according to one school of

thought for for example the man in the

center of the group upside down shows a

bag with money and junkies hanging from

his cloak a symbol of greed and

attachment to Earthly Goods until Nast

while the one on the right attempt men

with his head covered with taken by the

testicles is a symbol of the sin of lust

there were objections to the mixing of

figures from Pagan mythology into

depiction of a Christian subject matter

besides the figure of karon and minus

and wingless Angels the very classicized

Christ was suspect birdless Christ had

in fact only finally disappeared from

Christian art four centuries earlier but

Michelangelo's figure is unmistakably

apollonian

interpretation

the work is rather a transportation on a

universal level of the artist's personal

doubts and torments in the face of the

terrible crisis of Christianity that was

undermining the roots and assumptions of

Renaissance art from the traditional

iconographic scheme based on an ordered

unfolding of the Judgment without

hesitation or doubt Michelangelo passed

to a system based onto chaos the

instability and the agonizing

uncertainty of a huge and overwhelming

catastrophe which still causes its

Comfort today and all the more he had to

provoke it in the eyes of the shocked

contemporaries for some Scholars the

deepest meaning of the image is the

vision of the Shipwreck of a sorrowful

Humanity which after the collapse of the

last intellectual and moral shelters has

no choice but to avoid with trepidation

the Fulfillment of the promise of the

resurrection of the just the human storm

and the chaos of the painting lend

themselves well to representing

determined the religiosity of those

years characterized by contrast both of

ideological and political nature between

Catholics and Protestants and

Michelangelo's solution does not hide

the sense of profound anguish towards of

the last sentence