Michelangelo and

The Last Judgment

Michelangelo Michelangelo BuonarrotiBuonarroti Born on March 6, 1475 in Tuscany, ItalyBorn on March 6, 1475 in Tuscany, Italy Mother died when he was 6 years oldMother died when he was 6 years old Childhood was grim—he lacked affectionChildhood was grim—he lacked affection Michelangelo was shy, did not trust Michelangelo was shy, did not trust

others, and kept to himself.others, and kept to himself. Michelangelo’s father wanted him to Michelangelo’s father wanted him to

become a successful merchant or become a successful merchant or businessman.businessman.

Early LifeEarly Life

At 13, Michelangelo told his father he was going to be an At 13, Michelangelo told his father he was going to be an apprentice for the painter Ghirlandaio.apprentice for the painter Ghirlandaio.

After learning fresco painting for a year, he went to study After learning fresco painting for a year, he went to study sculpture at the Medici gardens. sculpture at the Medici gardens.

The Medici family was very distinguished, so say the least. The Medici family was very distinguished, so say the least. (Two of the Medici went on to become popes—Leo X and (Two of the Medici went on to become popes—Leo X and Clement XII.)Clement XII.)

The Medici Gardens

The Adoration of the Magi by Ghirlandaio

Early LifeEarly Life Michelangelo began to Michelangelo began to

study anatomy by study anatomy by studying corpses studying corpses (which was forbidden (which was forbidden by The Church).by The Church).

By the time he was By the time he was 16, Michelangelo had 16, Michelangelo had produced at least two produced at least two relief sculptures: relief sculptures: The The Battle of the Centaurs Battle of the Centaurs and and Madonna of the Madonna of the Stairs. Stairs.

Early CareerEarly Career The The BacchusBacchus 1496-14981496-1498 Michelangelo’s first Michelangelo’s first

larger than life-scale larger than life-scale sculpturesculpture

PietaPieta PietaPieta 1498-15001498-1500 St. Peter’s Basilica St. Peter’s Basilica Completed before Completed before

Michelangelo was 25 Michelangelo was 25 years oldyears old

He signed the He signed the sculpture on Mary’s sculpture on Mary’s sash.sash.

The DavidThe David The DavidThe David 1501-15041501-1504 Accademia, FlorenceAccademia, Florence Represents Florence in Represents Florence in

dealing with threats—dealing with threats—David as heroic courageDavid as heroic courage

Story of David vs. Story of David vs. Goliath from The BibleGoliath from The Bible

Athletic, manly Athletic, manly physique, concentrated, physique, concentrated, ready to fightready to fight

Formal beauty with Formal beauty with expressiveness and expressiveness and meaningmeaning

As a Painter…As a Painter… Michelangelo hated oil painting and portraiture. Michelangelo hated oil painting and portraiture.

He felt that painting was inferior to sculpture. He felt that painting was inferior to sculpture. Michelangelo did not get along with Leonardo da Michelangelo did not get along with Leonardo da

Vinci or Raphael, and they often competed for the Vinci or Raphael, and they often competed for the same attention. same attention.

In 1508, Michelangelo was summoned back to In 1508, Michelangelo was summoned back to Rome by Pope Julius II. Rome by Pope Julius II.

Pope Julius II wanted Michelangelo to paint 12 Pope Julius II wanted Michelangelo to paint 12 figures of apostles and some decorations on the figures of apostles and some decorations on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel. ceiling of the Sistine Chapel. LinkLink

Julius (with the support of the other artists) Julius (with the support of the other artists) trapped Michelangelo into painting the Sistine trapped Michelangelo into painting the Sistine Chapel ceiling, and he had to oblige him. Chapel ceiling, and he had to oblige him.

The Sistine ChapelThe Sistine Chapel

The Sistine ChapelThe Sistine Chapel Michelangelo refused to Michelangelo refused to

use the techniques offered use the techniques offered by other artists and locked by other artists and locked himself and a few himself and a few workmen in the Chapel.workmen in the Chapel.

It was completed from It was completed from 1508-1512.1508-1512.

It depicts scenes from the It depicts scenes from the Book of Genesis in the Book of Genesis in the center of the ceiling.center of the ceiling.

In the cornices are twenty In the cornices are twenty IgnudiIgnudi, living statues , living statues (spiritual brothers or (spiritual brothers or sisters of the artist). sisters of the artist).

The The IgnudiIgnudi combine both combine both masculine and feminine masculine and feminine traits.traits.

The Sistine ChapelThe Sistine Chapel There are twelve There are twelve ProphetsProphets

and and SybilsSybils, and twelve , and twelve Precursors of the Ancestors Precursors of the Ancestors of Christof Christ. .

The four corners contain The four corners contain scenes of the “people of scenes of the “people of God” (David cutting God” (David cutting Goliath’s throat, etc). Goliath’s throat, etc).

The figures on the ceiling The figures on the ceiling appear to be waiting for appear to be waiting for Christ and the Last Christ and the Last Coming. (Preview to Coming. (Preview to The The Last JudgmentLast Judgment))

The ceiling was done in The ceiling was done in October of 1512. Pope October of 1512. Pope Julius II died four months Julius II died four months later.later.

Other WorksOther Works Michelangelo’s other works Michelangelo’s other works

were interrupted for the were interrupted for the painting of the Sistine painting of the Sistine Chapel.Chapel.

He was working on a He was working on a monumental tomb for Pope monumental tomb for Pope Julius II. The plans Julius II. The plans included over 40 included over 40 sculptures, but was never sculptures, but was never fully finished. fully finished.

He also made sculptures He also made sculptures for the Laurentian Library for the Laurentian Library and the Medici Tombs.and the Medici Tombs.

The Last The Last JudgmentJudgment Commissioned by Pope Commissioned by Pope

Clement VII, who died Clement VII, who died before Michelangelo before Michelangelo started painting.started painting.

Paul III Farnese Paul III Farnese confirmed the confirmed the commission.commission.

Michelangelo began Michelangelo began painting in 1536.painting in 1536.

This was 24 years after This was 24 years after he finished the ceiling. he finished the ceiling. Michelangelo was in his Michelangelo was in his sixties. sixties.

The The Last JudgmentLast Judgment was was painted on the altar wall painted on the altar wall of the Sistine Chapel, of the Sistine Chapel, covering older frescoes covering older frescoes done by Perugino.done by Perugino.

It was completed in It was completed in 1541.1541.

The Last The Last JudgmentJudgment The Last Judgment The Last Judgment was was

the largest fresco of the the largest fresco of the Renaissance.Renaissance.

It depicts Judgment Day.It depicts Judgment Day. It represents humanity It represents humanity

face- to-face with face- to-face with salvation.salvation.

Christ begins the Christ begins the separation, with the separation, with the saved ascending on the saved ascending on the left side of the painting left side of the painting and the damned and the damned descending on the right descending on the right into hell. into hell.

The figures were The figures were originally nude, but originally nude, but draperies were added draperies were added later by another artist. later by another artist.

The Last The Last JudgmentJudgment The nudity did not The nudity did not

bother Paul III or bother Paul III or Julius III. Julius III.

In 1564, the In 1564, the Council of Trent Council of Trent decided to decided to “amend” the “amend” the fresco by adding fresco by adding some clothing to some clothing to the figures.the figures.

The Christ FigureThe Christ Figure Christ is depicted as Christ is depicted as

youthful and without a youthful and without a beard. beard.

He also is not “seated He also is not “seated on his throne in glory.”on his throne in glory.”

Critics said that Christ Critics said that Christ “lacked the requisite “lacked the requisite majesty.”majesty.”

He is very muscular and He is very muscular and sculptural, like the other sculptural, like the other figures painted on the figures painted on the wall as well as the wall as well as the ceiling of the chapel.ceiling of the chapel.

He is surrounded by the He is surrounded by the blessed saints and blessed saints and martyrs. martyrs.

Michelangelo’s Michelangelo’s Self PortraitSelf Portrait In many of his pieces, In many of his pieces,

Michelangelo gave his Michelangelo gave his figures his own facial figures his own facial attributes.attributes.

In In The Last JudgmentThe Last Judgment, , Michelangelo painted Michelangelo painted himself upon the himself upon the flayed skin of St. flayed skin of St. Bartholomew. Bartholomew.

This was a sign that This was a sign that Michelangelo was Michelangelo was terrified of “flesh” and terrified of “flesh” and “sin” and also sought “sin” and also sought spiritual renewal and spiritual renewal and salvation. salvation.

Other Notable Other Notable FiguresFigures

The Virgin Mary

Eve

St. John the Baptist

St. Laurence holding his gridiron

St. Peter offering two keys to Christ

St. Bartholomew holding his skin (and Michelangelo’s self-portrait)

Top of the FrescoTop of the Fresco On the left side (top On the left side (top

picture), the angels picture), the angels are lifting up the are lifting up the cross.cross.

On the right side On the right side (bottom picture), (bottom picture), angels lift up “the angels lift up “the column of the column of the flagellation”, which flagellation”, which tilts toward the tilts toward the center of the wall and center of the wall and balances the cross on balances the cross on the other side.the other side.

RevengeRevenge Before the wall was finished, Before the wall was finished,

Biagio da Cesena (Vatican’s Biagio da Cesena (Vatican’s Master of Ceremonies) said:Master of Ceremonies) said:

““It was mostly disgraceful that It was mostly disgraceful that in so sacred a place there in so sacred a place there should have been depicted all should have been depicted all those nude figures, exposing those nude figures, exposing themselves so shamefully, and themselves so shamefully, and that it was no work for a papal that it was no work for a papal chapel but rather for the public chapel but rather for the public baths and taverns.”baths and taverns.”

Michelangelo depicted Biagio Michelangelo depicted Biagio in hell as Minos with a serpent in hell as Minos with a serpent wrapped around and in wrapped around and in between his legs.between his legs.

The Last of The Last of MichelangeloMichelangelo The The Last JudgmentLast Judgment has a huge effect on art. It was has a huge effect on art. It was

the turning point in the history of art. Artists from the turning point in the history of art. Artists from all over the world visit the Sistine Chapel and copy all over the world visit the Sistine Chapel and copy the fresco.the fresco.

Japanese experts took on the restoration to reveal Japanese experts took on the restoration to reveal the bright colors of the frescoes. the bright colors of the frescoes.

Michelangelo continued to produce work, well into Michelangelo continued to produce work, well into his eighties. his eighties.

He saw it as his job to serve the Popes and do what He saw it as his job to serve the Popes and do what they requested.they requested.

Michelangelo died after a “slow fever” on February Michelangelo died after a “slow fever” on February 18, 1564.18, 1564.

He was 89 years old. He was 89 years old.

ReferencesReferences http://www.michelangelo.com/buon/bhttp://www.michelangelo.com/buon/b

io-index2.htmlio-index2.html Neret, Gilles. Neret, Gilles. MichelangeloMichelangelo. Taschen: . Taschen:

Germany, 2004. Germany, 2004.