Michelangelo's Last Judgment: Part 3

Leo Steinberg’s article on Michelangelo’s Last Judgment takes a very different approach than Marcia Hall’s. Steinberg has picked 15 points to focus on, instead of focusing on the whole fresco. However, instead of being limited to those 15 points, Steinberg is able to discuss the majority of the painting in some form or another. Section 3: That the gesture of Christ reveals a mystery, not a foregone conclusion was my favorite section of Steinberg’s article. He is combining historical writings, historical events, and knowledge of Michelangelo’s past work and style to argue his point. Steinberg argues that Michelangelo depicts the hand gestures this way to suggest the nature of duality in the divine figure; man but divine, anger and mercy, judgment and saving. All these are elements of the duality of Christ. Steinberg is arguing that Michelangelo is not reusing these gestures, as they have been seen on two pervious works, but is suggestion an ambiguous duality that only a select few would recognize. Earlier in his career, Michelangelo sculpted a bronze statue of Pope Julius II, since destroyed; it has been described as having a gesture very similar to that depicted in the Last Judgment. When asked whether it was a blessing or a curse, Michelangelo answered, “It threatens this people, Holy Father, lest they be foolish.” This statement, again suggests the duality of the divine was something that Michelangelo has been thinking about and trying to visual represent for a while. Is the Last Judgment the final representation of this duality? Steinberg suggests it, but cannot prove anything beyond presenting his evidence and leaving it up the reader.