The Sistine chapel was the only one of Michelangelo’s large scale projects that was insisted by religious leaders such as Julius II and Paul III (Harris, 1976, p 20). The main fresco of the Sistine chapel took four years to complete (1508-12). The last Judgment was created twenty three years later after completing the Genesis ceiling fresco. It is located on the altar of the Sistine chapel. The Last Judgment was commissioned by Pope Clement VII (1523-1534) shortly before his death, and confirmed in 1535 by his successor, Pope Paul III (1468-1549) who was considered the first Counter Reformation Pope. As a religious artwork it was the largest single fresco mural painting of the 16th century (www.everypainterpaintshimself.com/). It was part of the mannerism movement in art and architecture between the 14th and 15th century to show the distortion and exaggeration of human proportions to represent an ideal of beauty rather than its natural form.
The last judgement is depicted as a Counter-Reformation painting that reflected embarrassment of the Roman Catholic Church after the failure to stop the protestant reformation (Kedler, 1969, p 160). Furthermore it was created after the Sack of Rome in 1527 by troops of Emperor Charles V, in which compelled the Pope to abandon the Vatican and flee to Orvieto. These events were perceived by some as an indication of a divine wrath by God. The painting was presented to the Catholic community as universal message of the second coming of Christ and the final and eternal judgement by God of all humanity.
The Last Judgment was a very controversial piece at the time because, unlike other artists, Michelangelo portrayed the subjects naked in which demonstrated the lack of importance that riches would have at the end of the world when humanity stands before the judgment of Christ and God (www.visual-arts-cork.com/). Unlike his earlier work of the Sistine chapel, his depiction of the Last Judgment was much more neutral as well as gruesome with the souls of the condemned to be dragged down by demons into the underworld. Pope Paul III gave a lot of faith into painter’s abilities and gave him vast amounts of artistic license for the sake of the beauty of art. While others criticized Michelangelo's use of nude figures in which valuing art over religion as a serious sin; the Pope was very supportive of the piece. In addition to the lack of clothes on his subjects, Michelangelo was critiqued for not only using the Bible as an inspiration for his fresco but also mythological creatures such as Charon and Minos who were shown respectively in the underworld. Michelangelo, came in direct contact with a religious movement that required them to limit his art in certain ways(evergreen.loyola.edu/).Most of the nude figures in Michelangelo’s masterpiece had to be covered with drapery. As well as some scenes of the painting had been cut out or redone by a different artist altogether. Michelangelo distinguished himself arguably like no other artist had ever done before. Toward the end of his life, he appeared to rethink his career and to worry about his previous art. In this fresco Michelangelo lamented the vanity of art and expressed his longing for religious experience. Whether or not it was the effects of old age proximity to his death and to the completion of the Last Judgment that, like the figures in his painting, he too would face judgement. Michelangelo is an example of a master artist caught in the whirlwind of the religious renewal at that time.

Bibliography

Harris Nathaniel, (1976). 'Last Judgement'. In: (ed), Understanding Michelangelo.. 1st ed. England: A&W Visual Library.. pp.20.

Kedler Diane, (1969). 'Michelangelo'. In: (ed), Pagent of the Renaissance. 1st ed. United States of America : Frederick A.Praeger Inc . pp.160.

Collins Neil (2010). Last Judgment Fresco by Michelangelo. [ONLINE] Available at: http://www.visual-arts-cork.com/famous-paintings/last-judgment-fresco.htm. [Last Accessed 1st December 13].

Abrahams Simon (2005). Michelangelo’s Art Through Michelangelo’s Eyes. [ONLINE] Available at: http://www.everypainterpaintshimself.com/essay_pdfs/MLJ1.pdf. [Last Accessed 4 December 13].

Zawie Nathan (2009). Michelangelo's Last Judgment: The Response. [ONLINE] Available at: http://evergreen.loyola.edu/brnygren/www/Honors/MA.htm. [Last Accessed 4 December 13].

Michealangelo’s Last Judgement
Michelle Correa
The West and The World
CHY4U