The Last Judgment

Spiritual shock and awe. That’s the terrifying message of this Last Judgment scene. Medieval Christians viewed the end times in both universal and personal terms—as the final moment of human history and the instant when Christ would judge their souls. In Marx Reichlich’s painting, Christ descends on his rainbow throne and calls the living and dead to judgment. Despite the chaos on the ground, the painting ultimately offers only two outcomes. Either live a virtuous life and ascend into heaven with the saved on Christ’s right, or be condemned to the fiery pit of hell on his left. Among the damned is a bishop whose crown has been snatched by a demon. The warning is clear: Despite your seeming piety in life, only true virtue will ensure a heavenly reward.

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