Last Judgment in an Initial C 1403 - 1410

"Last Judgement in an Initial C" (1403-1410), by Florentine artist Lorenzo Monaco, is an illuminated manuscript page depicting the Last Judgement. Christ, in a blue robe, sits on a cloud, raising his hand and sounding a trumpet. The scene is enclosed in a large C, the first letter of the book of Psalms in the Antiphonary, with the damned, represented as nude figures, below. Monaco was known for his ornate, often gold leaf covered, manuscripts. His meticulous detail and vibrant palette are evident in this work, highlighting the dramatic scene and the ornate, intricately designed frame. This miniature was created for the Benedictine monastery of Santa Maria degli Angeli in Florence and now resides in the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City.