Worried expressions on the faces of these Souls of the Departed, waiting for the verdict of Christ the Redeemer on their earthly lives. Detail of early 1300s Last Judgement fresco, perhaps by a pupil of Giotto di Bondone, in the medieval Chiesa di Santa Maria del Tiglio at Gravedona, Lombardy, Italy.
Gravedona, Lake Como, Lombardy, Italy: Awaiting Judgement … apprehension and tension show in the early 14th century faces of these souls of the Departed in this close detail of a fresco in the Chiesa di Santa Maria del Tiglio. They wait for the verdict of Christ the Redeemer on whether they should be admitted to Heaven as the Blessed, Chosen or Saved - or be condemned, as the Damned, to suffer for their sins for all eternity in Hell. The Giudizio Universale (Universal Judgement or Last / Final Judgement) on the counter-façade is the oldest fresco in the 12th century Romanesque church and former baptistry on the northwest shores of the Lago di Como. It is by an unknown artist, but is Lombardic in style and shows the influence of the Florentine painter known as Giotto (Giotto di Bondone, 1267-1337). The fresco has been dated to the first half of the 14th century and it may well have been painted by a pupil or follower during Giotto’s lifetime. In terms of both skin colour and costume, the artist seems to have sought to represent humanity in all its diversity, but the complete artwork also has a more local connection, with Gravedona depicted as a heavenly Jerusalem. The original bell towers or campaniles of Santa Maria del Tiglio and of the Abbey of Piona, across the lake at Colico, are both recognisable. Other frescoes surviving in the church from the 14th and 15th centuries include the Adoration of the Magi, St John the Baptist, St Julian the Hospitaller, St Stephen, St Gotthard and St Christopher carrying the Christ Child. It also houses a masterpiece of Lombard Romanesque sculpture, a 12th century Crucifixion carved from poplar and alder wood.
Size: 4288px × 2848px
Location: Chiesa di Santa Maria del Tiglio, Gravedona, Lombardy, Italy.
Photo credit: © Terence Kerr / Alamy / Afripics
License: Royalty Free
Model Released: No
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