Art in an Early Global World at WAM: A WAM/College of the Holy Cross CollaborationMain MenuAmanda Luyster17d39c1ecea88fb7ff282fe74a410b89478b8327Created by the Worcester Art Museum and the College of the Holy Cross, with the Worcester Public Schools AP Art History class of 2024. Financial support provided by the Medieval Academy of America and "Scholarship in Action" at Holy Cross.
This Venetian Last Judgment can tell us a lot about the medieval globe. The depiction of Christ and the story of the afterlife reminds us of the importance of religion in the Middle Ages. From the different pigments and materials used in this painting, we can also learn a lot about trade around the medieval globe. The use of lapis lazuli in Italian paintings is evidence that the Venetian Republic was connected to Afghanistan via the trade routes of the Silk Roads. The use of gold leaf suggests that Venice was also connected to trans-Saharan trade in Africa. The Last Judgment is not only a deeply religious painting but also highlights Venice's central role as a hub for medieval trade.