Dimensions: 24-3/4 x 18-5/8 in. (62.9 x 47.3 cm)
Copyright: Public Domain
Tommaso Piroli made this drawing of the Last Judgement after Michelangelo, using graphite on paper. It’s a copy, but that doesn't make it any less interesting. Look at the graphic quality of this drawing. The lines are clear, simple, and precise, allowing for easy reproduction. This was essential, as Piroli's drawing was likely intended as a design for a print. Note the subtle contrast between the figures in the foreground, rendered with sharper detail, and the fainter, less defined figures in the background. This creates depth, but also emphasizes the main subjects. Piroli was part of a whole industry of printmakers, who disseminated imagery widely across Europe. This drawing demonstrates how the labor of artmaking could be divided, with Michelangelo originating the composition and Piroli skillfully translating it for mass consumption. It invites us to consider the social and economic contexts in which art is produced and consumed. It's a reminder that art isn't just about individual genius, but also about collaboration, reproduction, and the flow of images through society.
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