Last Judgment in an Initial C 1403 - 1410

Created in the early fifteenth century by Lorenzo Monaco, this illuminated manuscript depicts the Last Judgement within the letter ‘C’. Monaco was a Camaldolese monk, so his artistic choices reflect deep religious convictions as well as the stylistic conventions of the late Gothic period in Florence. Consider the emotional weight of divine judgement during a time marked by plague and social upheaval. The painting represents a world rigidly ordered by religious doctrine, but also hints at individual struggles for salvation. Note the stark contrast between the serene, idealized figure of Christ and the tormented expressions of those being judged. The artist uses the imagery of resurrection to invite reflection on morality, hope, and the complex relationship between humanity and the divine. What does it mean to portray judgement with such vivid emotional intensity? This artwork functions as both a religious symbol and a mirror reflecting the anxieties and aspirations of its time.