The Last Judgment (1570–90)
Original title: The Last Judgment
kurzbeschreibung
Michelangelo Buonarroti recorded the Last Judgment in black chalk on brownish paper; the dating runs from 1570 to 1590. A turbulent scene unfolds around Christ at its center, surrounded by angels and other spiritual figures.
Description
Angels and other figures crowd together in shifting poses: some seem to be fighting, others mourn or lie swooning. In the middle stands a figure that can be read as Christ, encircled by angels. The drawing remains throughout in shades of gray, due to the black chalk on brown paper. Light spreads evenly, with no harsh contrasts, which makes the sheet look flat and almost monochrome. The style values precise anatomy as well as the rendering of movement and expression.
Context
This sheet was made in Michelangelo's late period, decades after he had completed the fresco of the same name in the Sistine Chapel (1536–1541). The drawing is dated 1570 to 1590, that is, in the artist's last two decades. It is an independent study that engages with the pictorial theme of the Last Judgment.
Impact
The close succession of figures and their lively poses create a dense, almost dramatic mood. Because the drawing is monochrome in gray, it feels serious and contemplative; this underlines its spiritual content.
Technique
The sheet is executed in black chalk on brownish paper, which allows soft, graduated modeling. Presumably the chalk was applied in several layers to achieve fine transitions between light and shadow. The brown paper gives the drawing a warm ground that gently enlivens the gray tones of the chalk.
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Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)