the Last Judgment

The whole painting represents the Last Judgment.

Grand Duke Cosimo I de' Medici decided to have the dome painted with a representation of The Last Judgment. This enormous work, 3,600 square metres of painted surface, was started in 1568 by Giorgio Vasari and Federigo Zucchero and would last till 1579.

In this picture you see the different 'levels' that are painted.

The upper portion, near the lantern, representing The 24 Elders of Apoc. 4 was finished by Vasari before his death in 1574. Frederico Zucchero and a number of collaborators, such as Domenico Cresti, finished the other portions: (from top to bottom)
Choirs of Angels;
Christ, Mary and Saints;
Virtues, Gifts of the Holy Spirit and Beatitudes; and at the bottom of the cuppola:
Capital Sins and Hell. Wikipedia

09-05-05 | 12:27
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