A Critique of Hell

This Saturday was our second seminar on Roman art history. The entire seminar was mainly a review for me and I was actually surprised that Ms. Everett was able to teach it in just 2 hours instead of 3 hours. The seminar focused on three points’ architecture, paintings/frescoes, and sculptures. We went over a lot of things and since it was review for me I decided to go into depth on a piece of art that caught my eye the most. I actually have had great interest in this piece since last year and it’s something from the famous Renaissance period. No it’s not the Sistine Chapel just a piece of it. That’s right it’s the Last Judgment.

I think it’s very interesting because it’s a depiction of hell like none other. The stereotypical hell that most people think of that is seen on television shows and movies is one of fire and pits of death. It seems that Michelangelo seen hell in a different way. As the painting progresses downward from heaven the piece that depicts hell looks like earth. This makes me think that Michelangelo is implying that hell is on earth. I thought this was also different because it stands out from the other pieces of art from the time period that shows religion being about salvation, and portraits of Jesus, and Saints. This one shows the fall of man and just complete unhappiness.

This painting also brought up more controversy than others from the Renaissance. It showed nudity and “obscenity” in the most important Christian church in the world. It actually was different from the religious art that most people were used to for example Jesus Christ is seen as very muscular and he doesn’t have a beard. Michelangelo also put in a self portrait of his skin. This painting says a lot about the artist and about how some social views on religion as well as art might have changed around that time. I thought it was pretty cool that this painting stood out amongst the other paintings and sculptures from the time period in art history that stands out the most which is the Renaissance. Although I focused on one painting Rome’s history of art is never ending and goes on a much wider spectrum than this piece.

-Tre’von Walker