Het laatste oordeel 1548

Nicolò della Casa made this engraving of The Last Judgement sometime in the mid-16th century. The composition, of course, will be familiar as a reproduction of Michelangelo’s famous fresco in the Sistine Chapel. Della Casa was one of several engravers authorized to reproduce and distribute Michelangelo’s designs. These prints played a crucial role in building and sustaining Michelangelo’s reputation across Europe. But this image is far more than a simple reproduction. The image appears at a critical juncture in the history of the Catholic Church. Michelangelo’s fresco, completed in 1541, was immediately controversial. The sheer number of nudes, many in suggestive poses, offended the sensibilities of some church officials, an early sign of the coming Counter-Reformation. Della Casa’s print thus occupies a key position in the history of artistic censorship and religious reform. To understand the image fully, researchers will want to consult 16th-century religious texts, artists’ contracts, and inventories of print collections. With these resources, the social life of the image begins to come into view.