Da Michelangelo Buonarroti, the Last Judgement Michelangelo, 1650, Oil on Canvas

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Description

The last judgement
by michelangelo buonarroti (caprese 1475 – rome 1564)

17th-century roman painter

oil on canvas
133 x 165 … Read more The last judgement
by michelangelo buonarroti (caprese 1475 – rome 1564)

17th-century roman painter

oil on canvas
133 x 165 cm. - in an antique frame (defects and small losses) 152 x 184 cm.

good condition

nb: please note that the images were created using professional lighting. If not properly lit, the painting may appear slightly darker.

details of the painting

this is an extraordinary 17th-century work based on the celebrated last judgement frescoed by michelangelo buonarroti between 1535 and 1541. It was commissioned by pope clement vii to decorate the wall behind the altar of the sistine chapel and is today considered an absolute masterpiece of western art.

buonarroti's last judgment is a magnificent work, capable of arousing powerful emotions from the very first glance, with its whirlwind of over 400 figures rotating around the judging christ at the center, depicted half-naked like a classical hero, with the virgin at his side.

we see the moment when the angels sound their trumpets to unleash the apocalypse, with christ resurrecting the dead and calling the blessed to heaven with him, commanding the angels to cast the damned into hell.

in the upper part of the composition, the angels carry the symbols of the passion of christ—the cross, the crown of thorns, and the column of the flagellation. Around the figure of christ are arranged in a circle several old testament figures, such as apostles, prophets, heroines, sibyls, and patriarchs, as well as saints, martyrs, and virgins.

in the lower section, beneath the angels with trumpets holding the sacred scriptures, the resurrection of the dead is depicted on the left, some of whom ascend to the ranks of the blessed, others are cast into the coils of hell, welcomed into the boat by charon, and seized by devils.

michelangelo's last judgment has been reproduced in numerous ways, both anciently and modernly, as it was a highly sought-after subject among the great art collectors of the time.

among the most important copies is the panel by marcello venusti, an original commissioned by cardinal alessandro farnese in 1549 to preserve a representation of buonarroti's original work. It is now in the capodimonte museum in naples (image 1).

in rome, venusti and his workshop became one of the protagonists of the dissemination of michelangelo's invention in small formats, as did many other artists. In our case, the work is masterfully restored here by the hand of a talented painter, presumably active in rome in the 17th century, and therefore shortly after the master's last judgment.

the uniqueness and value of our work, like those created by venusti, is that it also holds historical documentary value, showing michelangelo's fresco in its entirety, before the censorship imposed by the council of trent in 1564, which led daniele da volterra to cover up the nude scenes, considered indecent.

in our case, the artist has enhanced the painting with highly expressive painterly strokes, accompanied by a rich and vibrant color palette, well preserved over time and allowing us to admire the work in every detail.

among other works from the great masterpiece, we can mention:
- antonio campi and workshop, last judgement, second half of the 16th century, oil on canvas, 168 x 138.5 cm. Creval collection, sondrio (image 2)
- circle of giulio clovio, last judgment, circa 1570, tempera on parchment, florence, casa buonarroti (image 3)
- giovanni battista moroni, last judgment, church of san pancrazio (gorlago, bergamo) (image 4)
- niccolò della casa (after michelangelo), last judgment, 1543 - before 1562, engraving (image 5)
- hendrick van balen (antwerp 1575–1632), last judgment, dorotheum vienna, april 30, 2019

additional information:

good condition. With antique frame (good condition, defects and small losses).

the work is sold with a certificate of authenticity and an iconographic . This piece is attributed to the mentioned designer/maker. It has no attribution mark and no
official proof of authenticity,
however it is well documented in design history. I take full responsibility for any authenticity



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