Michelangelo Paintings

The Last Judgment - Michelangelo Painting

This massive work was executed between 1535-1541 and it spans the entire wall behind the altar of the Sistine Chapel. This painting illustrates the second coming of Christ and Apocalypse (the Judgment Day). It is a fresco (a technique where the painting is done when the plaster on the wall is still wet therefore the colors intermingles permanently with the plaster and is permanent).

This painting depicts scenes of incredible suffering as souls of humans rise up and face their fate. It created a lot of controversy between the church and Michelangelo. The Church objected to the graphic violence and nudity. A censorship campaign (known as the "Fig-Leaf Campaign") was started. Pope's own Master of Ceremonies, Biagio da Cesena, was mightily offended,he said- "it was mostly disgraceful that in so sacred a place there should have been depicted all those nude figures, exposing themselves so shamefully, and that it was no work for a papal chapel but rather for the public baths and taverns. However when the Pope was asked to interven he very wittily said that his jurisdiction did not extend upto hell so the painting will have to remain. The genitalia in the painting was however, later covered the painter Danielle de Volterra.

Michelangelo along with his contemporary Florentine painter Leonardo Da Vinci, will remain as the two most important painters of all times. their collective works definitely includes the 50% of the worlds most recognised paintings.