The Last Judgement

Artist: John Martin

Title: The Last Judgement

Date: 1853

Medium: oil on canvas

Provenance: Bequeathed by Charlotte Frank

Source: http://www.daydaypaint.com/blog/the-last-judgement-painting-by-john-martin.html

Describe: three groups in the painting; heavenly figures and doomed figures. colors are whites, blues, reds, greens, and brown. Light is in the distance, center and left of the painting; while darkness is on the right.

Analyze: Value differs between light and dark, creating contrast. The horizon line leads the eye to the center of the painting, where the angels are. Primary colors are used; red, yellows, and blues. Form is used in the effect of figures in the foreground are bigger than those in the back. The balance is symmetrical with figures covering all the points of the page with even weight.

Interpret: Since the viewers eye leads to the figures in the middle, I think that represents God seperating the good from the bad. The eye next goes to the two groups, the right are the people doomed to hell, and the left are people going to heaven. The darkness on the right represents the pain and suffering in hell; the light on the left represents the peace in heaven. The mood of suspense is created through the figures' stature.

Judge: The painting accurately expresses the artists intent, the last judgement on earth. The biggest event we all wait for, captured through color. Since the painting shows all these elements, I think it is rightfully put together.