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Symbolism And Cosmology In Michelangelo's Last Judgment

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“Sun-Symbolism and Cosmology in Michelangelo’s Last Judgment ,” by Valerie Shrimplin-Evangelidis, discusses the innate meaning and the cosmological symbolism of the central theme of Michelangelo’s Last Judgment, which is considered to be one of the most significant works of art during the period 1537-1556. The analysis focuses primarily on the underlying theme of the circular design with Christ at the center and all the figures in this fresco arranged around Christ. It also examines the early Christian comparisons between Christ and the sun, as represented by the yellow mandorla. Significant themes that may have contributed to this work of art and may explain the hidden symbolic meanings are theories of heliocentricity proposed by Copernicus; the Neoplatonic Sun-symbolism theory; the impact of the Catholic Reformation on the customary relationship between …show more content…

He had debated that the heliocentric theory of Copernicus originated after the fresco’s origination and believed that the circular themes were not based on the heliocentric theory of Copernicus but were the artist’s own idea. Tolnay’s beliefs were centered on the argument that any reference to Copernican heliocentrism did not appear logical as Michelangelo’s Last Judgment preceded the works of Copernicus by seven years. Tolnay argued that the circular theme was based on the rotation of the cosmos and to ancient beliefs like the Wheel of Fortune. The circular theme was also related to Plato’s Timaeus, which had been a subject of interest both to Michelangelo and Dante. In Dante’s writing, there is clear evidence of a spherical Earth and a spherical universe. As regards the sun symbolism and Christ, Tolnay believed that it was based on age-old astral beliefs. As such, Tolnay dismissed the relevance of the Copernicus theory because of chronology, and the sun symbolism due to ancient astral

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