Michelangelo's Last Judgment: Part 2

In continuing reading Marcia Hall’s chapter on the Last Judgment, I found it interesting of the reaction that Michelangelo received. Due to the changing religious climate what was accepted 30 years ago, was no longer accepted. Again, if we use the Sistine Chapel as an example, even though the style has changed as Michelangelo matured as an artist, we can see that he had always used nude figures, especially nude males. Also, he has always manipulated his figures into seemingly impossible poses that show off the strength and vitality of the human figure. However, either Michelangelo was ignoring the religious climate or he ignored directives from his patrons. No one can know what made Michelangelo painted such an altarpiece other than he was simply painting as he had become known for. Either way, the reaction was probably not what he expected. Pietro Aretino, a friend of Michelangelo’s, wrote, “martyrs and virgins in improper attitudes, men dragged down by their genitals, things in front of which brothels would shut their eyes in order not to see them.” This is interesting because this probably isn’t Aretino’s true opinion. He was under suspicion from the Church and was afraid he writings would get him in trouble. One of the easiest ways to appease the Church at this time was to condemn someone else. Michelangelo was an easy target having just finished the Last Judgment. Even after Michelangelo’s death, theologians were using his Last Judgment as an example; an example of what not to do when painting sacred images. During the mid-1500s and well into the 1600s, the Church was feeling threatened. New sects of Protestantism were emerging all over the world, and the power that the Church held was diminishing. It was only because of that, that I believe that the Church would have turned their back on one of the most famous artist of their time. They needed to set an example for the rest of the world and reaffirm the Church’s power. They used Michelangelo has that example.