The Last Judgment
1590
oil
panel
From the collection of Philadelphia Museum of Art
1590
oil
panel
From the collection of Philadelphia Museum of Art
The Last Judgment is a 1590 oil by Unknown, a Mannerism work, held at Philadelphia Museum of Art.
This painting depicts a dramatic scene of judgment, with figures rising from the earth and floating in the air. The scene is set against a backdrop of clouds and a bright light emanating from the top center. In the foreground, a group of people are shown in various states of undress, some with their arms outstretched and others with their heads bowed. The figures are rendered in a range of colors, from pale flesh tones to deep reds and blues. The use of chiaroscuro, a technique that uses strong contrasts of light and dark to create a sense of volume and depth, adds to the dramatic effect of the scene. The Philadelphia Museum of Art is home to many works that showcase this technique.
