Michelangelo's Last Judgement, by Hall

Hall discusses Michelangelo's depiction of the Last Judgement for the Sistine Chapel versus what other artists did with the same story. It was thought that with Michelangelo's painting, it brought a message about Rome "coming back to life." The fresco took him five years to complete. The painting was supposed to represent the second coming of Christ, the final day, and universal resurrection. It was difficult to understand exactly how to represent the scene, the holiness and religious aspect of it. Christ was to be in the center, showing his power and authority. His composition gained dynamic energy as he played with different poses and gestures. He strays away from tradition by adding nude figures, which are said to be "akin and of ideal strength," not representing a full array of bodies and ages. Hall writes, "if we are made in God's image, then we will bear the image of God in heaven." I feel that this statement shows that it is okay that Michelangelo portrayed the bodies with ideal strength and similarities. Michelangelo put himself in the painting, taking on the role of Bartholomew. He will not have to spend eternity in his failing body (which he had complained about after painting the vault for the Sistine Chapel) but rather regain a new one during the resurrection. Michelangelo used references and experience from his previous paintings to build upon them and create The Last Judgement.