The Last Judgment is a famous fresco by Michelangelo, covering the altar wall of the Sistine Chapel in Vatican City. Painted between 1536 and 1541, it depicts the second coming of Christ and the final judgment of souls, based on Christian theology.
Christ at the Center: The central figure is Christ, depicted as a powerful judge, surrounded by saints, the blessed, and the damned.
Mary: To Christ's side is the Virgin Mary, who appears to be looking away, embodying her compassion but also resignation to Christ's judgment.
Angels and Saints: Around Christ are a host of saints and apostles, including Saint Peter, Saint Bartholomew (holding his flayed skin, which many interpret as a self-portrait of Michelangelo), and Saint Catherine.
The Saved and the Damned: Below the central figures, the saved are being lifted towards heaven, while the damned are being dragged down to Hell by demons. Charon, the mythological figure from Dante's Divine Comedy, ferries souls across the river into Hell, adding a blend of Christian and classical imagery.
Hell and Heaven: Michelangelo's depiction of Hell is chaotic and filled with tortured figures, while Heaven is more serene, with angels and the saved rising upwards.