Studies for “The Last Judgement” (c.1534; Rome, Italy) by Michelangelo

The artwork “Studies for ‘The Last Judgement’” by Michelangelo, dating from around 1534 and created in Rome, Italy, is an exemplar of the Mannerism movement which succeeded the High Renaissance. Executed on paper with chalk, this sketch and study is part of the artist’s preparatory work for his ambitious Sistine Chapel Paintings. The dimensions of the artwork are 38.5 cm by 25.3 cm, and it is presently housed in the British Museum in London, United Kingdom.

Regarding the artwork itself, we see a tumult of figures sketched with masterful precision and fluidity, demonstrating Michelangelo’s ability to render the human body in motion. The array of poses and the dynamic arrangement create a sense of movement and drama. The composition, although seemingly disarranged, shows the potential positioning of these figures in the planned fresco. The physicality of the figures, with their defined musculature and expressive gestures, indicate an intense study of human anatomy and the emotional gravitas appropriate to the seriousness of the depicted subject, which is the divine judgement at the end of times.