The Last Judgment 

Giovanni Battista della Rovere created this pen and brown ink drawing called “The Last Judgement” in Italy, sometime between the late 16th and early 17th century. The image depicts the moment when Christ returns to judge the living and the dead, a common theme in religious art of the period. What might be considered the politics of imagery in this piece? At the top, Christ sits in judgement, surrounded by saints and angels, while below, the dead rise from their graves to face their eternal fate. Consider how this imagery was a potent tool for the Catholic Church during the Counter-Reformation. The drawing may have served as a preparatory sketch for a larger painting or fresco, reflecting the period's artistic production and institutional demands. Della Rovere likely made it to display his mastery of anatomy and perspective, skills valued by the artistic academies of the day. Understanding the social conditions and religious institutions of Della Rovere’s time, through careful research and historical analysis, allows us to grasp the full significance of this work.