6.2 Michelangelo's The Last Judgement

• what do Catholics believe will happen at the end of time?

  everyone will be resurrected and judged by Christ which will confirm if they will spend the rest of eternity in heaven or hell
• what does the Last Judgement painting by Michelangelo depict?

  Judgement Day
• Christ is the central figure in the painting

  emphasising his importance as the judge of all
• wounds from Christs crucifixion are visible

  showing that Jesus came to glory through obedience and suffering
• Christs right hand is raised

  reflects parable of the sheep and goats in which Jesus promises the good will be on his right and the wicked on the left
• what is Christ shown doing in the painting?

  raising those on his right up to heaven
• people are rising from their graves

  shows that all people will be raised up for judgement on the last day
• people are shown moving towards hell

  with a sense of despair
• hell is shown as a place of darkness

  reflects the idea that the light of Christ cant reach people who have rejected God
• what are the angels from the book of revelation doing?

  one of the angels is holding a small book filled with the names of those who will be raised to heaven while another angel is holding a much larger book filled with the names of those who are destined for hell
• what do the angels actions represent?

  reflects Jesus' teaching that no one should be complacent and assume they will be raised to Heaven
• everyone is shown naked apart from Jesus and Mary

  shows that in the Last Judgement all people are equal before God
• near to Jesus are some saints who are holding the tools that were used to torture and kill them


  despite their torture the saints are shown to have perfect bodies which reflects the catholic belief that peoples bodies will be resurrected as well as their souls and made perfect
• what else does the saints reflect?

  the belief that people who stick to their faith that no matter what happens to them they will be raised up to Heaven