The Last Judgement by Giotto
This incredible painting completed
by Giotto in 1305 inside the Arena Chapel. Which has the Jesus Christ in the
center of the fresco, being the main focus of the work of art. On either side
of Jesus Christ are the twelve disciples which form a barrier separating Heaven
from all other worlds. The Heavenly host being above Jesus while Earth and Hell
reside below Him. The painting shows that the only path to Heaven is through
Him Yet failure in this regard to meet the requirements to enter Heaven result
in eternal damnation in hell which is on the other side of the cross. Hell is
depicted in this fresco as eternal suffering and the people there are trying to
seek reconciliation as they are seen attempting to reach out to Jesus.
This
shows how in this period artists were still centered around the church and religion
yet were beginning to utilize a more life-like approach to depicting events.
Also, along with that, is the fact that a Church could be built of such
magnitude which demonstrates the wealth of the region at that point in time.
Allowing the peasants of the time period to visualize what was taught to them
at Mass, potentially allowing for a greater understanding of the prophecies of
what is to come.
Evan,
ReplyDeleteInteresting piece! Your pointing out of the magnitude of the church is an important detail, given the intermingling of power, money, architecture, and religion during the period. In addition, I appreciated your emphasis on the religious influence on the artists, like Giotto. Sometimes I create a firmer barrier between secular and religious worlds in the Renaissance period in my thoughts than was truly the case.
I think that this is a very interesting work of art that has a practical use by the Catholic Church. I like how you presented it as a visual aid that could be used to help people understand what the church is preaching. It very much represents Christian ideology in a single convenient image.
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