Scene Of The Last Judgment, 18th Century

This large-scale painting foreshadows the Last Judgment. The scene depicted here shows an angel holding a trumpet, accompanied by two putti, standing on a cloud and holding the eternal Gospel, on which we can read in Latin: “Timete Dominum, quia venit hora judicii ejus: et adorate eum, qui fecit caelum, et terram, mare, et fontes aquarum.” This warning is preceded in the text by: “Then I saw another angel flying high in the sky. He had the eternal Gospel to proclaim to all who dwell on the earth—to every nation, tribe, language, and people. He cried out in a loud voice: ‘Fear God and give him glory, for the hour has come when he will pass judgment. Worship, therefore, the One who made heaven, earth, the sea, and the springs of water.” This is a passage from the Book of Revelation 14:7.

In this painting, we can observe an iconographic variation that focuses primarily on the tone of this scene. Indeed, while most depictions of the Apocalypse portray this scene with a sense of gravity and “chaos,” this painting, on the contrary, seems rather to herald good news: the triumph of good over evil, of God over Satan. While depictions of the Last Judgment are often divided between the peace of heaven and the chaos of the earthly realm, this is partly to highlight the “heavenly glory” of the righteous in contrast to the wicked, who, for their part, will face a state of shame and eternal torment. This eschatological concept was central to 15th- and 16th-century societies, as the “end of the world” was a major source of anxiety for the populace.

While this iconography is widely featured in many religious buildings—through frescoes or carved tympanums—we can also see it incorporated into tapestries as well as paintings.

Late 18th century

Height: 113 cm

Width: 178.5 cm

Painting sold in need of restoration

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