Main theme: Michelangelo, the esteemed artist and architect during the time of the Reformation and Counter-Reformation.

Part 2. The Last Judgement

• Michelangelo's return to Rome. San Lorenzo was only half completed when Michelagelo left for Rome in 1534, basically leaving behind a building site. Neither the Sacristy nor the Library were finished. As for Julius' Tomb a new contract had been drawn up in 1532. Michelangelo's friend Sebastiano had done a Michelangelesque style portrait of cardinal Salviati at a time when Salviati's goodwill towards him was important in the negotiations over Julius' Tomb. Sebastiano had also executed portraits of pope Clement. Still, the bad conscience over Julius' Tomb was to bother him for years to come. In 1536 the pope exempted Michelangelo from any legal penalties due to his non-fulfillment of the Julius contract. A new, the fourth contract was signed in Auigust 1542. The work was finished in 1545.
• Michelangelo's The Last Judgement. Pope Clement VII died only two days after Michelangelo had returned to Rome. By then he had already commissioned The Last Judgement. In the years before his papacy, as cardinal, he had supervised Michelangelo in his work on the Medici chapel, San Lorenzo. The commission was in perfect tune with the changing climate of the times, as if to emphasise that everybody faces the last judgement. The new pope, Paul III, picked up on Clement's idea of using the commission as a symbol of a more chaste, clean and correct church as part of his reform program. In fact Pope Paul, during a meeting with Michelangelo, showed willingness to interfere with the Julius contract in order to acquire Michelangelo's services for the Last Judgement. The pope even visited Michelangelo in his house in Marcello dei Corvi where he also saw the Moses statue.
• Working on the Last Judgement. Despite Michelangelo's very hard work and, artistically speaking, very successful execution, he never felt quite safe. He did however have time for other things while working. In 1538, in San Silvestro al Quirinale (in the gardens), Michelangelo would discourse the arts with the friends Vittoria Colonna, Lattanzia Tolomei and Francesco de Holande.
• Unveiling The Last Judgement. Michelangelo's interpretation of the Last Judgement emphasise the importance of faith and the divine will; key elements in the Catholic reform movement. All the same, the glaring nudity was shocking to many people and the religious images were open to varying interpretation. The work attracted several enemies who would have preferred a Savonarola-inspired interpretation. Even though he had the Pope's support Michelangelo was still at risk, not least because malicious rumours of his relationship with Tommaso were in circulation.

Sights and art works:

Portrait of Cardinal Salviati, Sebastiano

Portrait of Pope Clement, Sebastiano

The Last Judgement, 1535-41, Sistine Chapel, Michelangelo