Art History
June 8, 2016
Pico in the Oration on the Dignity of Man, argues that man is great because, they have the ability to choose whether or not to be divine. Fra Angelico 's Last Judgment, supports Pico's argument. A key theme in Fra Angelico's Last Judgment, and most art for its style period, is geometry is beauty, and beauty is divine. In the bottom, left hand, corner if you trace an outline around the circle of individuals holding hands, and the crowd to the left of Jesus, it forms a curving infinity symbol.
The curved lines of the infinity symbol, invoke a sense of grace, and natural beauty. The top half of the piece, has Jesus in the center, with a line of Saints to the right and left of Jesus. If you trace an outline, around Jesus and the Saints, it forms a curving bird-like shape.
The curving lines present in the shape, invoke a sense of grace and beauty. The two lines of Saints, that are adjacent to Jesus on either side, are parallel to one another. Jesus acts as a center between the Saints, and the parallel lines of Saints, form a harmonious geometric balance. In the bottom, far right hand, corner the people being tortured in Hell, utilize dark grays, red, and black.
The darker colors are more lifeless and without joy. The rest of the piece, disregarding the far right hand, corner where people are being tortured in Hell, is composed on brighter more joyful, beautiful shades of assorted colors.
The piece as a whole, illustrates Saints and innocent people as bright and beautiful, and the damned as dark and grotesque. Which portrays how men can be beautiful and therefore divine, or grotesque, and therefore not divine.
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