Last Judgment

This is an oil and tempera on panel painting. Christ is seated in the center of the scene with the Virgin Mary to the left and St. John the Baptist to the right. Centrally located on the panel is Christ. He is seated on a rainbow, wearing a red robe, the folds of which appear so stiff, they look more carved from stone than fabric. His right hand points with two fingers, his left appears to be outstretched in a wave. He wears a decorative halo, and beneath his feet is an orb on which is painted a landscape scene with trees and flowing water. Out of the right side of his mouth comes a stalk of lilies, the left, a double edged sword. There a two angels with trumpets aiming downward announcing the last judgment. The judgement scene is divided into two halves. On the right the Virgin Mary, draped in a green robe, kneels praying. She also wears a decorated halo. She is floating on layers of white clouds above the saints being welcomed into heaven. The saints are ushered in by an angel with green wings, they themselves are naked and pale as marble. There is one who still wears his Emperor's crown, and a Pope who still has on his three tiered papal crown. On the other side, John the Baptist floats before Christ on dark clouds. He is draped in light green and also has a decorated halo. Beneath him are the tormented souls being dragged to eternal damnation. Their skin tone is painted darker, than the pale saints, as if there was actually blood flowing through their veins. The demons dragging them away have odd anatomical arrangements. At the bottom center one of the demons even gives the viewer a toothy grin. Center of the panel are people coming out of squares in the ground, to represent the dead rising for judgement. The top portion of this painting is covered by an elaborate frame, wood carved in ornate arabesques, making the viewing portal in the shape of a Gothic arch.		Marx Reichlich
German (active ca. 1485-1520)
Last Judgment, ca. 1490
Tempura | Oil on panel
Gift of Walter P. Chrysler, Jr.
European Art
Location:  Exhibit, 216, The Dalis Foundation Galleries of European Art
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Dimensions:  H: 77 5/8 in, W: 65 in, FH: 81 3/4 in, FW: 70 in
Object ID: 71.3098

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This is an oil and tempera on panel painting. Christ is seated in the center of the scene with the Virgin Mary to the left and St. John the Baptist to the right. Centrally located on the panel is Christ. He is seated on a rainbow, wearing a red robe, the folds of which appear so stiff, they look more carved from stone than fabric. His right hand points with two fingers, his left appears to be outstretched in a wave. He wears a decorative halo, and beneath his feet is an orb on which is painted a landscape scene with trees and flowing water. Out of the right side of his mouth comes a stalk of lilies, the left, a double edged sword. There a two angels with trumpets aiming downward announcing the last judgment. The judgement scene is divided into two halves. On the right the Virgin Mary, draped in a green robe, kneels praying. She also wears a decorated halo. She is floating on layers of white clouds above the saints being welcomed into heaven. The saints are ushered in by an angel with green wings, they themselves are naked and pale as marble. There is one who still wears his Emperor's crown, and a Pope who still has on his three tiered papal crown. On the other side, John the Baptist floats before Christ on dark clouds. He is draped in light green and also has a decorated halo. Beneath him are the tormented souls being dragged to eternal damnation. Their skin tone is painted darker, than the pale saints, as if there was actually blood flowing through their veins. The demons dragging them away have odd anatomical arrangements. At the bottom center one of the demons even gives the viewer a toothy grin. Center of the panel are people coming out of squares in the ground, to represent the dead rising for judgement. The top portion of this painting is covered by an elaborate frame, wood carved in ornate arabesques, making the viewing portal in the shape of a Gothic arch. This is an oil and tempera on panel painting. Christ is seated in the center of the scene with the Virgin Mary to the left and St. John the Baptist to the right. Centrally located on the panel is Christ. He is seated on a rainbow, wearing a red robe, the folds of which appear so stiff, they look more carved from stone than fabric. His right hand points with two fingers, his left appears to be outstretched in a wave. He wears a decorative halo, and beneath his feet is an orb on which is painted a landscape scene with trees and flowing water. Out of the right side of his mouth comes a stalk of lilies, the left, a double edged sword. There a two angels with trumpets aiming downward announcing the last judgment. The judgement scene is divided into two halves. On the right the Virgin Mary, draped in a green robe, kneels praying. She also wears a decorated halo. She is floating on layers of white clouds above the saints being welcomed into heaven. The saints are ushered in by an angel with green wings, they themselves are naked and pale as marble. There is one who still wears his Emperor's crown, and a Pope who still has on his three tiered papal crown. On the other side, John the Baptist floats before Christ on dark clouds. He is draped in light green and also has a decorated halo. Beneath him are the tormented souls being dragged to eternal damnation. Their skin tone is painted darker, than the pale saints, as if there was actually blood flowing through their veins. The demons dragging them away have odd anatomical arrangements. At the bottom center one of the demons even gives the viewer a toothy grin. Center of the panel are people coming out of squares in the ground, to represent the dead rising for judgement. The top portion of this painting is covered by an elaborate frame, wood carved in ornate arabesques, making the viewing portal in the shape of a Gothic arch. This is an oil and tempera on panel painting. Christ is seated in the center of the scene with the Virgin Mary to the left and St. John the Baptist to the right. Centrally located on the panel is Christ. He is seated on a rainbow, wearing a red robe, the folds of which appear so stiff, they look more carved from stone than fabric. His right hand points with two fingers, his left appears to be outstretched in a wave. He wears a decorative halo, and beneath his feet is an orb on which is painted a landscape scene with trees and flowing water. Out of the right side of his mouth comes a stalk of lilies, the left, a double edged sword. There a two angels with trumpets aiming downward announcing the last judgment. The judgement scene is divided into two halves. On the right the Virgin Mary, draped in a green robe, kneels praying. She also wears a decorated halo. She is floating on layers of white clouds above the saints being welcomed into heaven. The saints are ushered in by an angel with green wings, they themselves are naked and pale as marble. There is one who still wears his Emperor's crown, and a Pope who still has on his three tiered papal crown. On the other side, John the Baptist floats before Christ on dark clouds. He is draped in light green and also has a decorated halo. Beneath him are the tormented souls being dragged to eternal damnation. Their skin tone is painted darker, than the pale saints, as if there was actually blood flowing through their veins. The demons dragging them away have odd anatomical arrangements. At the bottom center one of the demons even gives the viewer a toothy grin. Center of the panel are people coming out of squares in the ground, to represent the dead rising for judgement. The top portion of this painting is covered by an elaborate frame, wood carved in ornate arabesques, making the viewing portal in the shape of a Gothic arch. This is an oil and tempera on panel painting. Christ is seated in the center of the scene with the Virgin Mary to the left and St. John the Baptist to the right. Centrally located on the panel is Christ. He is seated on a rainbow, wearing a red robe, the folds of which appear so stiff, they look more carved from stone than fabric. His right hand points with two fingers, his left appears to be outstretched in a wave. He wears a decorative halo, and beneath his feet is an orb on which is painted a landscape scene with trees and flowing water. Out of the right side of his mouth comes a stalk of lilies, the left, a double edged sword. There a two angels with trumpets aiming downward announcing the last judgment. The judgement scene is divided into two halves. On the right the Virgin Mary, draped in a green robe, kneels praying. She also wears a decorated halo. She is floating on layers of white clouds above the saints being welcomed into heaven. The saints are ushered in by an angel with green wings, they themselves are naked and pale as marble. There is one who still wears his Emperor's crown, and a Pope who still has on his three tiered papal crown. On the other side, John the Baptist floats before Christ on dark clouds. He is draped in light green and also has a decorated halo. Beneath him are the tormented souls being dragged to eternal damnation. Their skin tone is painted darker, than the pale saints, as if there was actually blood flowing through their veins. The demons dragging them away have odd anatomical arrangements. At the bottom center one of the demons even gives the viewer a toothy grin. Center of the panel are people coming out of squares in the ground, to represent the dead rising for judgement. The top portion of this painting is covered by an elaborate frame, wood carved in ornate arabesques, making the viewing portal in the shape of a Gothic arch.
Marx Reichlich
German (active ca. 1485-1520)
Last Judgment
Oil and tempera on panel
Gift of Walter P. Chrysler, Jr. 71.3098

Medieval Christians viewed the Last Judgment in both cosmic and intensely personal terms, as the climactic moment of human history - the end of the world and time - and the terrifying instant when their own souls would be judged by Christ. Following long-established pictorial tradition, this late-15th-century German Last Judgment shows Christ seated upon his rainbow throne, flanked by trumpeting angels who awaken the dead to judgment. He is attended by the Virgin Mary and St. John the Baptist, who prayerfully intercede on mankind's behalf. The stalk of lilies and sword flanking Christ's head allude to the dual nature of his judgment, symbolizing divine mercy on the one hand (his compassionate acceptance of all righteous souls), and divine justice on the other (his swift dispatch of the wicked).

Below, on earth, the dead rise from their graves and are marked for salvation or damnation. Among those pure souls waiting in line to ascend into heaven are a monk (with tonsured head), an emperor, a pope (who wears the three-tiered papal crown), and a couple holding hands - almost certainly Adam and Eve. Howling in despair at the prospect of eternal torment, the Damned are attacked by an army of demons who haul them into the fiery pit of hell. Among the condemned is a bishop whose miter, or crown, has been confiscated by a demon - a warning to the clergy that they, too, must remain above reproach or suffer the consequences. The message conveyed to the 15th-century viewer could not have been clearer: No matter one's station in life, only virtue will insure reward in the hereafter.
 

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