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.