The Last Judgement, by Michelangelo, spans the entire front altar of the Sistine Chapel. In particular, I would like to focus on the image of St. Bartholomew. Looking at the painting of the St. Bartholomew, we see him resting at the left hand of Jesus Christ. He is holding a knife and skin, symbolizing the way in which he was flayed alive. This particular painting by Michelangelo was done in the fresco fashion upon the front wall of the Sistine Chapel.
Under Pope Clement VII, Michelangelo was commissioned to paint the Last Judgment on the Sistine Chapel around 1535. He completed this task about 1541, during his late sixties. Michelangelo was unhappy with his position as painter because he regarded himself as solely a sculptor. However, his endeavor of taking on the Last Judgment, succeeded with its attempt to depict the second coming of Christ. In particular, the image of St. Bartholomew represents the many martyrs that were killed for their belief and loyalty to Christ. The image of St. Bartholomew with his knife and skin are shown in a way that would look as if he is holding up his sacrifice and pain, showing Christ his love and loyalty. It is during this final judgment that Bartholomew is reminding God of his sacrifice as he was skinned alive. This is one of many images that depicts likeness of the ways martyrs were killed for their beliefs.
Taking a closer look at the image of St. Bartholomew and his skin, observers can see a face in the flayed skin. Through the centuries that image has been said to be that of Michelangelo himself. His depiction of himself shows an anguished and tormented side. This image has been interpreted to mean what Michelangelo felt, when his time would come to be judged, he would not have such an offering to give to Christ. The tortured face in the folds of the skin relay the fatigue and inner turmoil that Michelangelo felt as he completed the Final Judgement.
The creation of Michelangelo’s sculpture of the Pieta was commissioned for the funeral Cardinal Jean de Billheres. The Pieta has since been moved to the first right alcove of St. Peter’s Basilica. Michelangelo’s depiction of the Blessed Mother and Son was carved out of marble in 1499.
This sculpture of Mary and Jesus is unlike many others. In that, the Holy Mother is cradling the dead body of her son. Many times she is seen holding a child or the infant baby Jesus. Instead, the Pieta recreates the scene right after Jesus has been taken off the cross. This image humanizes both Mary and Jesus, showing both of their vulnerability. The wounds of Jesus are not highlighted in Michelangelo’s Pieta instead they are smaller wounds showing where he was nailed to the cross and then stabbed in the side.
Another, symbol found in the Pieta is the image of Mary. Here she is seen as a young woman holding to herself a body of a grown man. The sculpture shows a very serene and young Mary. It is unusual to see such a young version of Mary especially when she is seen with her son Jesus. However, Michelangelo intentionally created Mary this way. He used her image in the Pieta to convey her purity of heart, because he believed that through her purity she was kept “fresh and unchanged by time.” Even looking at the proportion of Mary to the limp body of Jesus viewers can see a big contrast. This can also be said to symbolize the motherliness of Mary as she takes Jesus’ dying body into her hands. Her comfort as a mother returns almost as if she were comforting a small child. This image of Mary conveys her strength and purity even at one of the most difficult times in her life.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bartholomew_the_Apostle
Tour of St. Peter’s Basilica
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