Art - Roman History | Assignment

Running head: ART
Introduction, form, content and context
Roman History
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ART
The Last Judgment is a Fresco painting made by the great Italian painter Michelangelo di
Lodovico Buonarroti Simoni, who is also commonly known as Michelangelo, during the
Renaissance period. The painting is across the altar wall of Sistine Chapel at Vatican City. The
painting is a depiction of Christ’s second coming as well as the last and eternal judgment given
by God for humanity (Khanacademy.org). The depiction is one of the most famous and
significant paintings, in the history. Michelangelo was inspired to make the painting as he was
inspired by Bible but it is entirely out of his creative imagination that he was given the painting,
the great form and content (Moroncini).
The painting is credited for breaking away from the conventions and tradition way of
depiction, as were employed in paintings, during the time. In traditional patterns, hell, Earth and
heaven were depicted through horizontal layers, which was replaced in the painting through the
overall structure (Khanacademy.org). Michelangelo wanted to depict the terrible emptiness of
eternity which he has characterized in his work through isolation of the individuals and figures
into plastic formations. Christ is present in the painting right at the center, with which, the artist
ties to capture the exact moment before the verdict of Last Judgment is given (Moroncini).
Vergine Maria or Virgin Marie has been depicted on Christ’s right hand side who awaits the
judgment with a gesture which justifies her resignation.
Christ is surrounded by the God’s elected members and Saints, in a movement of slow
rotation (Italian-renaissance-art.com). The most notable figures who have been depicted in the
painting include Saint Peter, Saint Laurence, Saint Bartholomew, Saint Catherine of Alexandria
and St Sebastian. At a lower section, the angels are posited, who symbolize the Apocalypse, who
blow trumpets in order to wake the dead (De Campos, et al). Those who have left, rise towards
heaven as they make attempts to recover their bodily figures. On the right side lies the demons