The Last Judgement Michelangelo Analysis

Renaissance Art

The Last Judgement by Michelangelo is the most preeminent representation of Italian Renaissance fine art, and undoubtedly the most valuable piece of the era. Characteristics of Italian Renaissance artwork are present throughout the painting. Realism, perspective, individualism, light & shadowing and are the most prominent qualities of this painting. Particularly, realism is expressed through the nudity of the people displayed in the painting, not every person’s body is perfect, ideally many bodies have flaws. Realism and expression are shown when “the proportions of his figures grew… more menacing… [and] seething with nudity” (1). The people behind the altar of the Chapel were naked with indecent expressions, displaying individual

expressions all throughout the artwork.

Perspective is based on Jesus in this painting due to his outward “radiant glow of divine light” (1) extending to the other people in the painting. The main focus is on Jesus and the rest of the figures are diffused in an outward fashion from Jesus himself. The artist himself expresses an emphasis on individualism by implementing himself within the painting by appearing “twice in the Last Judgement: in the flayed skin which Saint Bartholomew is carrying in his left hand, and the figure… who is looking encouragingly at those rising from their graves” (2). This is an action that only a Renaissance painter would do, which is displaying individuality through a self-portrait because of the possibility of being judged for selfishness. Light and shadowing is prominent within the art which is shown in the painting when the lighter, more brighter colors are focused in the middle and then fade into darker tones while moving outward into the

edges of the painting. This depicts that the darkness moving outwards exhibits the movement of individuals into Hell, and the lighter regions which are focused in the middle, towards Jesus reveals individuals reaching Heaven.
The principal symbol within the painting is the cast that is assembled by the painter.

They exemplify “the good...bad...famous and...obscure; the decision being taken by God must be the most momentous of all decisions ever taken; the painter must convincingly imagine Hell for those who receive thumbs-down on God’s final judgement; at the same time he must convincingly imagine Heaven for those who are saved” (3). This depicts that the painter perceives the afterlife in this manner, and shows Heaven and Hell through the people and colors, lighter and closer to jesus for Heaven, and darker and closer to Hell for the individuals with the “thumbs down” judgement. This evaluation ties in within the historical context of the painting. The Last Judgement “covers the wall behind the altar 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” (4). This shows that even though Michelangelo was ordered by the Pope and inspired by the Bible to paint this artwork, this painting is based off of Renaissance ideals, due to his “imaginative vision” that prevails in the

painting.
Individualism is precisely evident throughout this painting because of the implementation of his himself within this painting. This is a very significant factor because not did he only incorporate himself into the painting, but he also integrated his mood and emotions.Throughout his painting career, his faith was attacked, by the Pope and critics, and Michelangelo was ridiculed for his appearance. Furthermore, assimilating his emotions within the “skinned saint” was a very self-orientated action even though this was intended to be painted for the Church. Humanism is accurately conspicuous in the painting because of the separation of the Heaven-bounded individuals versus the Hell-bounded individuals. This painting is a good illustration of the fault in man because half of the composition consists of individuals being dragged into hell.