On 31 October 1541, Michelangelo Buonarroti completed his awe-inspiring fresco, "The Last Judgment", on the altar wall of the Sistine Chapel in Vatican City.
Commissioned by Pope Clement VII and later carried on under Pope Paul III, the monumental painting stretched over 45 feet high and covered the entire wall, depicting the Second Coming of Christ and the final judgment of souls with dramatic, emotive power.
Michelangelo’s skill in anatomy and his innovative use of vivid colour and complex poses transformed the work into a dynamic, nearly overwhelming vision of salvation and damnation, positioning Christ at the centre as he judges humanity.
The work, which took nearly five years to complete, faced controversy for its use of nudity and intense portrayals of anguish, though it remains one of the most revered and studied masterpieces in Western art, leaving an indelible impact on religious and artistic traditions alike.
