Figure from The Last Judgment

1740

From the collection of Victoria and Albert Museum

Dominant colour

Figure from The Last Judgment is a 1740 by Francesco Bartolozzi, a Baroque work, held at Victoria and Albert Museum.

Who painted this?: Francesco Bartolozzi
When & what style?: 1740 · Baroque
Where can I see it?: Victoria and Albert Museum

About this work

This drawing shows a muscular man mid-motion, one arm raised and the other holding a cloth draped over his shoulder. He stands on a few steps, his body twisted as if caught in the middle of a leap. The lines are smooth but detailed, especially around his muscles and the flowing fabric. The artist used shading to make the figure look three-dimensional, with dark shadows on one side and lighter tones on the other. This effect makes the body pop off the page. Next, check out chiaroscuro to see how this technique works.

The story of this work

Overview

A figure from *The Last Judgment* is depicted in this print on paper, adapted from Michelangelo’s fresco in the Sistine Chapel.

Read the full account in the museum source.

About the artist

Artist

Francesco Bartolozzi

Francesco Bartolozzi (21 September 1727 – 7 March 1815) was an Italian engraver, whose most productive period was spent in London. He is noted for popularizing the "crayon" method of engraving.

See the richer artist page