Last Judgment 1460

This image depicts the Last Judgement and was created by an anonymous artist using what looks like ink and tempera on vellum. Images like this were common in medieval illuminated manuscripts, acting as tools for both instruction and contemplation. The figures of Christ, Mary, and a male saint, possibly John the Baptist, form a visual hierarchy, floating over those rising from their graves to be judged. This imagery reflects a rigid social order. Gendered expectations are evident as Mary assumes a role of intercession, her presence softening the judgement by Christ. The expressions of the resurrected, emerging from their graves in various states of undress, capture a raw emotionality tied to facing divine judgement. This image reflects the medieval period’s deep concern with salvation, while reinforcing societal hierarchies through religious narratives. The piece invites us to reflect on the intersection of faith, power, and personal destiny.