Michelangelo
The Last Judgement, Sistine Chapel Altar Wall
Italy (1536-41)
Fresco; 1370 × 1200 cm.
Sistine Chapel, Vatican City
Sometimes I get so caught up in trying to find lesser known works to share with everyone, I sort of forget that some of the most famous monumental works of all time have Black and Brown people in them (thanks to mirtabrkulj for dropping a reminder in my inbox). Michelangelo’s masterpieces in the Sistine Chapel have a very interesting history of posthumous censorship (including how Daniele da Volterra got the nickname “Il Braghettone”, meaning “the breeches maker”), restoration, obfuscation, and general scandal.
The PoC in this painting mostly represent souls being lifted out of their graves and into heaven (or hell) during the final and eternal judgement by God of the peoples of every nation.
[high resolution image]
