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The Last Judgment

Fra Angelico

Fra Angelico

1425

Scene

Christ sits on a white throne in the upper center, with his right hand pointing up to Heaven and his left hand gesturing down to Hell. Broken tombs in the middle show the dead rising from their graves to face judgment.

Figures

Christ is surrounded by angels, Mary, John the Baptist, and saints. The saved are led by angels in paradise, while the damned are tormented by demons and Satan in Hell.

Symbolism

The clear, distilled light in the background symbolizes divine illumination. The separation between the garden of paradise and the horrors of Hell represents the moral division between the blessed and the damned.

Craft

The artist uses a sophisticated use of perspective to create spatial depth, giving the painting a clear and organized structure.

Impact

This painting has been appreciated by audiences of all ages for its accessible visual language and served as an important tool for moral instruction in Renaissance Florence.

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Tags

DeathFiguresReligionAweDread

Craft

Movement

High Renaissance

High Renaissance

1490 - 1530

Sought balance, proportion, and ideal harmony, uniting perspective, anatomy, and composition in calm, masterful form.