The Last Judgement.
Images of a Masterpiece.
The Last Judgement by Michelangelo
covers the wall behind the alter in the Sistine Chapel. The work
depicts the second coming of Christ and, although the artist is clearly
inspired by the Bible, it is his own imaginative vision that prevails
in this painting.
The picture radiates out from the center
figure of Christ, and Michelangelo has chosen to depict the various
saints included in the work holding the instruments of their martyrdom
rather than the actual scenes of torture.
When executing his "Last Judgement" it
would seem that Michelangelo had
been given artistic licence to paint scenes, not only from the Bible,
but also from mythology. This shows great faith in the artist by his
patron, Pope Paul III.
Unfortunately it was decided that works
of art in sacred places had to be modest and a pupil of Michelangelo,
Daniele da Volterra, was commissioned to cover the figures nakedness
with loincloths and veils. Originally all the figures were naked but da
Volterra's intervention earned him the nickname of the maker of
breeches.
Other over painting was added in the
next two centuries and for the same reason.
With the restoration of the chapel in
the 1980's and 1990's only Daniele da Volterra's additions have been
saved as part of the history of the painting, all other additions have
now been removed.
"The
Last Judgement"
48x44
feet, 1536-1541 Fresco, (s)
The fresco angles out at the top of the
painting preventing
dust from settling on it and also improving the perspective of the
work. At the top of the painting the cross, the crown of thorns, and
other symbols of the passion of Christ can be seen.
Christ
the Judge (detail) (s)
The center figure is Christ deciding the destiny of the human
race. With a gesture of his arms he damns a large part of humanity
plunging them into hell, but some are saved rising to heaven. Even the
Madonna at his side seems to cower in fear at the scene.
Angels
and Saints
Angels
trumpets and the Archangel Michael (s)
The dead are awakened by angels trumpets
and the Archangel
Michael reads from the book of souls to be saved. The larger book on
the right contains a list of the damned destined for hell.
St
Bartholomew holds his own skin. (s)
Just below the figure of Christ, are St
Lawrence holding a ladder (this symbolizes the saint's martyrdom on a
grate over hot coals). St Bartholomew holds a sheet of his own skin in
his left hand and in his right hand is a knife. This symbolizes the
terrible fate of Bartholomew who was flayed alive. The face on the skin
is reputed to be a self-portrait of the artist.
St
John The Baptist (w)
On the left of the picture are St Andrew
holding his cross
and St John the Baptist is the powerfully built figure gazing across at
Christ.
St
Peter (w)
The figure of St Peter on the right
holds a silver and a gold key, the keys to heaven, this is
actually a portrait of Pope Paul
III.
St
Sebastian, St Blaise and St Catherine. (w)
Below Peter are St Blaise and St
Catherine.
St Catherine holds the toothed knife of
her martyrdom and St Blaise carries the iron combs used for his
torture, St Sebastian is beside them with arrows in his hand.
The
Damned and the Saved
The
boatman Charon (s)
At the bottom of the painting the
boatman Charon can be seen ferrying the damned into hell.
Charon is the mythical boatman
of Roman and Greek mythology who ferried the damned to hell. He is
featured in Dante's Devine Comedy, and also in Virgil's Eneid, both of
these works provided inspiration for Michelangelo's interpretation of
the Last Judgement.
The
resurrection of the dead is shown at the bottom left of the
painting.
The
resurrection of the dead (s)
Damned
Man (w)
Lower down on Christ’s right is the figure of a damned man
who covers one eye in fear of his terrible fate.
Baigio
da Cesena as Minos (s)
Baigio da Cesena, a papal master of
ceremonies, criticized Michelangelo's work saying that nude figures had
no place in such a sacred place, and that the paintings would be more
at home in a public tavern.
Michelangelo included da Cesena in the
Last Judgement as Minos, one of the three judges of the underworld.
When Baigio complained to the Pope the pontiff explained that he had no
jurisdiction over hell and that the portrait would have to remain.
In Greek mythology, Minos was
the king of Crete and was the son of Zeus and Europa. He became one of
the three judges of the underworld after his own death and Michelangelo
has depicted Minos with ass-ears and wrapped in serpents coils. The
coils indicate to what circle of hell the damned are destined.
The serpent's bite on the genitals
of Minos (da Cesena) illustrates Michelangelo's disdain for
the Cardinal and of course Baigio must have been furious
but.... A point well made I believe!
The
Saved Rejoice (s)
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