Image ID: 27702899
Michelangelo’s “The Last Judgment”, a monumental fresco painted between 1536 and 1541, adorns the altar wall of the Sistine Chapel in Vatican City. Commissioned by Pope Paul III, this work represents the artist’s later period and is notable for its dramatic composition and powerful expression of religious themes.
“The Last Judgment” depicts the second coming of Christ and the final judgment of souls, drawing inspiration from the biblical Book of Revelation. At the center of the composition is a dominant, muscular Christ, depicted in a dynamic pose with his right hand raised in a gesture of damnation or salvation. Surrounding him are a host of saints, martyrs, and apostles, each rendered with intense emotion and intricate detail. The saved souls ascend towards heaven on Christ’s right, while the damned are cast into hell on his left, creating a striking contrast between the two groups.