This content was created by Thomas Leimkuhler.
The Last Judgment
1 media/TheLastJudgment_thumb.jpg 2024-02-15T11:33:32-08:00 Thomas Leimkuhler 8cec613fbab5840a56df4d7b61b210aed2f2bcaa 44404 2 Early 1300's, Venetian Painintg plain 2024-02-15T11:34:42-08:00 Photographer:Frank E Graham 20131023 144046+0000 Thomas Leimkuhler 8cec613fbab5840a56df4d7b61b210aed2f2bcaaThis page is referenced by:
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media/TheLastJudgment.jpg
2024-02-15T11:31:07-08:00
The Last Judgment (1923.34)
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Early 1300's, Venetian, Egg Tempera Gold Leaf painting
plain
2024-02-29T11:09:47-08:00
45.441, 12.316
Tommy Leimkuhler, 2025
The Last Judgment, probably early 1300'sEgg Tempera and gold leaf panel
Italy, possibly VeniceThe Last Judgment is understood, in Catholicism, to take place at the end of time, when Jesus returns to earth (the Second Coming) and all souls are judged. Here, Jesus’s body displays the wounds from his crucifixion, showing the sacrifice he made as the savior of humanity. A river of fire flows from Jesus’s feet, separating the souls of the blessed on the left, who are fully clothed and kneeling in worship of Jesus, and the souls of the damned on the right, who are naked and beaten by demons. The Virgin Mary, John the Baptist, and angels appear behind Jesus. While this painting was created in early 14th century Italy, the materials used to create it came from many faraway places. Blue pigments, as seen in the shape behind Jesus, could incorporate the semiprecious stone lapis lazuli, mined in Afghanistan, and Italian gold leaf often came from the Ghanaian region of Africa, known as “the Gold Coast.”
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2024-02-21T19:09:23-08:00
The Last Judgment: Why was this object made, and how was it used?
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Early 1300's, Venetian
plain
2024-02-29T11:10:42-08:00
Tommy Leimkuhler, 2025
While much about The Last Judgment is unknown by looking at other paintings depicting judgment scenes and the final judgment, it can be inferred that this painting is meant to remind people of their susceptibility to the final judgment. This painting portrays the sacrifice Jesus made as well as the two options people face upon their final judgment. In the bottom left hand corner are the souls of the saved. In the bottom right corner are the souls of the damned. These two groups are divided by the river of blood flowing from Christ's wounds. The damned are shown beaten and tortured by Demons, however, the saved are shown worshiping Christ. This suggests that the painting is intended to encourage people to follow the path of the saved and live morally while worshiping Jesus. Should they fall out of faith with Christ then they will be punished. An important note is that this painting is believed to have been completed around the time of the black death plague in Europe. Throughout the black death plague, religion became very important as many viewed the plague as a sign of God’s judgment.It was not until after this painting that judgment scenes became wildly popular, often used to decorate town halls and courtrooms. By depicting biblical scenes in town halls and courtrooms many believed that the paintings would get the leaders and administrators of justice to act morally and shun corruption. While it was not known where this painting hung, one can conclude that in similar light the purpose of this painting is to promote acts of morality and reject acts of sin and corruption.