The Last Judgement

Leandro Bassano was the son of a leading artist of the 16th century Venetian School, Jacopo Bassano. He was taught how to paint by his father, Jacopo, and his elder brother, Francesco, and undertook the decoration of the Doge's Palace. The upper part of this work depicting the Last Judgement shows the glory of the saints in heaven. The lower left is a salvation scene and the lower right shows the soul falling into hell. In the upper left is a self-portrait of Leandro himself and a portrait of Doge Marino Grimani, who was a significant patron. The self-portrait is decorated with the emblem of the Order of Saint Mark, which suggests that this painting was executed with particular significance to commemorate the conferment of knighthood upon Bassano by General Grimani. (Source: The Digital Gallery. 1999-2006)