Shop art print and framed art Figures, d'après le Jugement Dernier à la Chapelle Sixtine by Giorgio Vasari

The Last Judgment by Michelangelo: A monumental fresco

The Last Judgment is a huge fresco created by Michelangelo between 1536 and 1541. It adorns the altar wall of the Sistine Chapel in the Vatican, Rome. This gigantic work, measuring 13.7 meters high by 12.2 meters wide, is considered one of the masterpieces of the Italian Renaissance and of Western art in general. It depicts the Last Judgment as described in the Bible, with Christ at the center, surrounded by saints and angels, judging the souls of the dead as they rise.

A turbulent historical context at the heart of the Last Judgment

The commissioning of The Last Judgment takes place in a troubled historical context. Europe was shaken by the Protestant Reformation, which challenged the authority of the Roman Catholic Church. The sack of Rome in 1527 by Charles V's troops had left a deep impression on people's minds and weakened the papacy. In this climate of uncertainty and questioning, and following the burning of the Sistine Chapel altar, Pope Clement VII, then his successor Paul III, wished to assert the power and grandeur of the Catholic Church, but above all to leave a trace of their reign in one of Catholicism's most important buildings, through an ambitious artistic program for the Sistine Chapel. Michelangelo, already famous for having painted the chapel's vault between 1508 and 1512, was asked to create this monumental fresco. The artist, aged over sixty, was reluctant to accept the commission, which he found unattractive. He finally yielded to the pope's urgings and embarked on this colossal project, which would keep him busy for almost five years.

The Last Judgment: a dynamic, swirling composition

The Last Judgment is characterized by an extremely dynamic and complex composition. Michelangelo breaks with iconographic tradition by depicting Christ not as a serene, hieratic judge, but as a powerful, muscular athlete, in an impetuous gesture of damnation. All around him, a multitude of figures move in a whirlwind of upward and downward movements. The saints and the elect are carried up to heaven, while the damned are hurled down to hell. The pictorial space is saturated with naked bodies in athletic, expressive poses, conveying the violence of the emotions and the dramatic tension of the moment. The chromatic palette, dominated by bright, contrasting colors, reinforces the intensity of the scene.

The Last Judgment: Christ judges and the Virgin intercedes

At the center of the composition, Christ occupies a dominant position. His stern gaze and imperious gesture express his power and authority. He is surrounded by the Virgin Mary, who seems to be imploring his mercy for the souls of the departed. Surrounding them are the apostles, prophets, martyrs and saints, recognizable by their attributes. Among the most remarkable figures is Saint Bartholomew, who holds in his hand his own flayed skin, on which Michelangelo is said to have painted his self-portrait. At the bottom of the fresco, angels sound their trumpets to awaken the dead and announce the Last Judgment. The damned are cast into Hell by demons, while the chosen are welcomed into Paradise.

The Last Judgment : a complex and polysemic symbolism

The Last Judgment is a work rich in symbolism, the interpretation of which has been the subject of much debate. The nudity of the figures, which shocked Michelangelo's contemporaries, can be interpreted as an allegory of the human condition in the face of divinity. The figures' muscular, athletic bodies reflect the Renaissance ideal of beauty, but they also symbolize the strength and power of divine judgment. The various groups of characters, objects and gestures depicted in the fresco allude to biblical passages and theological traditions. Charon and Minos, figures from Greek mythology, are also present, recalling the influence of Antiquity on Renaissance culture.

The Last Judgment: A controversial masterpiece and a major influence

The Last Judgment provoked strong reactions from the moment of its creation. The nudity of the figures and the violence of certain scenes shocked the most conservative critics, who called for the fresco to be destroyed. Michelangelo was accused of impiety and obscenity. After the artist's death, the Council of Trent (1545-1563) ordered that the parts deemed most indecent be covered with draperies. These modifications were added by Daniele da Volterra, a pupil of Michelangelo. Despite the controversies, The Last Judgment exerted a considerable influence on Western art. The expressive power of the composition, the anatomical mastery of the bodies and the symbolic richness of the work inspired many artists, from the Renaissance to the 20th century. The Last Judgment remains today one of Michelangelo's most famous and admired works, and a major testimony to Renaissance art.

This artwork is a drawing from the renaissance period. It belongs to the mannerism style.

« Figures, d'après le Jugement Dernier à la Chapelle Sixtine » is kept at Louvre, Paris, France.