The Last Judgment
1567
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
1567
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
This drawing is packed with figures in a chaotic, swirling scene. The lines are scratchy and layered, like someone sketched fast and then added darker washes. Some bodies stretch upward, others fall or reach out—it’s hard to tell who’s doing what. The top half is framed like a half-circle, while the bottom half is more rectangular, almost like two different sketches glued together. The artist used a grid of faint lines to transfer the design elsewhere—probably for a bigger painting. The ink looks worn in spots, like the paper has aged. If you like this style, check out Renaissance art next.
