The Last Judgment

c. 1567

Giorgio Vasari

Associated Names
Giorgio Vasari

Artist, Florentine, 1511 - 1574

This is a drawing of a mythical or religious scene. The drawing shows several figures in different positions and actions. The composition is divided into two main sections with figures in the upper levels and lower levels. The upper section appears to depict a group of figures witnessing or participating in an event. The lower section shows figures in dynamic poses with swords or engaged in struggle. The scene is detailed with a brownish wash for tonal contrast.

Media Options

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Artwork overview

  • Medium

    pen and brown ink with brown wash over traces of red and black chalk, squared for transfer with black chalk, on cream laid paper

  • Credit Line

    Wolfgang Ratjen Collection, Patrons' Permanent Fund

  • Dimensions

    overall: 41.5 x 19.7 cm (16 5/16 x 7 3/4 in.), arched top

  • Accession Number

    2007.111.177

Artwork history & notes

Provenance

(sale, Weinmüller, Munich, 13 October 1938, no. 699). Bernhard Funck (1895-1993), Munich [Lugt 3835]. Herbert List [1903-1975], Munich (Lugt 4063); Ursula and Adolf Ratjen, Vaduz, for Wolfgang Ratjen; Wolfgang Ratjen, Munich; purchased 2007 by NGA.

Associated Names

Exhibition History

1977

  • Stiftung Ratjen, Italienische Zeichnungen des 16.. - 18. Jahrhunderts. Staatliche Graphische Sammlung, Munich; Staatliche Museen Preussischer Kulturbesitz, Kupferstichkabinett; Kunsthalle, Hamburg; Kunstmuseum, Düsseldorf; Staatsgalerie, Graphische Sammlung, Stuttgart. Munich, 1977, no. 41 (entry by Gunther Thiem).

1979

  • Zeichnungen Italienischer Meister aus den Sammlungen Schloos Fachsenfeld, Stiftung Ratjen Vaduz, Staatsgalerie Stuttgart, Staatliche Graphische Sammlung München, Kunstmuseum Lucerne, 1979, no. 112.

1981

  • Giorgio Vasari, Casa Vasari, Arezzo, 1981, no. 36b, fig. 159 (entry by Julian Kliemann).

1995

  • Fünfzig italienische Zeichnungen des 16. - 18. Jahrhunderts aus der Stiftung Ratjen, Vaduz. Liechtensteinischen Staatlichen Kunstsammlung, Vaduz. Bern, 1995, no. 17.

1996

  • Italian Drawings from the Ratjen Foundation, Vaduz. The Frick Collection, New York. Bern, 1996, no. 17.

2011

  • Italian Master Drawings from the Wolfgang Ratjen Collection, 1525-1835, National Gallery of Art, Washington, DC, 2011, no. 5.

Bibliography

1972

  • Monbeig-Goguel, Catherine. Inventaire générale des dessins italiens I: Vasari et son temps. Paris, 1972: 152, under no. 198.

1985

  • Ieni, Giulio. "'Una macchina grandissima quasi a guisa d'arco trionfale': l'altare vasariano" Pio V e Santa Croce di Bosco. Alessandria, 1985: 53-54.

1994

  • Härb, Florian. "Giorgio Vasari (1511-1574): Die Zeichnungen." Dissertation, University of Vienna, 1994, 1: 261, no. 330, 2: pl. 330.

1996

  • Giovannetti, Alessandra. "L'altare Vasariano della chiesa di Santa Croce a Boscomarengo (1567-1569)." In Anna Forlani Tempesti, ed. Altari e immagini nello spazio ecclesiale: Progetti e realizzazioni fra Firenze e Bologna nell'età della Controriforma. Florence, 1996: 90, fig. 3.

2001

  • Scorza, Rick. "Un nouveau dessin de Vasari pour l'autel de l'église Santa Croce à Bosco Marengo," Revue du Louvre 51, no. 2 (2001): 55, note 6.

Inscriptions

on verso, in graphite at lower center: Georgio Vasari; in another hand (very lightly): G. Vasari; and at center, O. Zurchero

Wikidata ID

Q64572297

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