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Das Jüngste Gericht

Unknown

1490

From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art

Renaissance Renaissance Religious

Dominant colour

Das Jüngste Gericht is a 1490 by Unknown, a Renaissance work, held at Cleveland Museum of Art.

Who painted this?: Unknown
When & what style?: 1490 · Renaissance
Where can I see it?: Cleveland Museum of Art

About this work

This image shows a chaotic scene with lots of people packed together. At the top center, a robed figure sits on a throne, holding a long staff and looking down. Around them, smaller figures—some winged, some holding instruments—float or stand in odd poses. Below, more people are tangled in what looks like a storm of limbs and objects, with some rising from the ground and others reaching upward. Notice how the figures are all stiff and flat, with little shading. Their faces look almost carved, not painted. This style was common in early religious art before artists started playing more with light and depth. If you like this kind of busy, symbolic art, look up Renaissance.