elo, the
Pope took Michael Angelo into his service, and desired him to carry out
what he had begun in the time of Clement, to paint the end wall of the
Sistine Chapel, which he had already covered with rough-cast and screened
off with boards from floor to ceiling. As this work was instigated by Pope
Clement, and begun in his time, it does not bear the arms of Paul,
although he desired it; but Pope Paul so loved and reverenced Michael
Angelo that however much he desired it he would never have vexed him. In
this work Michael Angelo expressed all that the human figure is capable of
in the art of painting, not leaving out any pose or action whatsoever. The
composition is careful and well thought out, but lengthy to describe;
perhaps it is unnecessary, as so many engravings and such a variety of
drawings of it have been dispersed everywhere. Nevertheless, for those who
have not seen the real thing, and into whose hands the engravings have not
come, let us say, briefly, that the whole is divided into parts, right and
left, upper and lower, and central. In the central part, near to the
earth, are seven angels, described by Saint John in the Apocalypse, with
trumpets to their lips, calling the dead to judgment from the four corners
of the earth. With them are two others having an open book in their hands,
in which every one reads and recognises his past life, having almost to
judge himself. At the sound of these trumpets the graves open and the
human race issues from the earth, all with varied and marvellous gestures;
while in some, according to the prophecy of Ezekiel, the bones only have
come together, in some they are half clothed with flesh, and in others
entirely covered; some naked, some clothed in the shrouds and
grave-clothes in which they were wrapped when buried, and of which they
seek to divest themselves. Among these are some who are not yet fully
risen, and looking up to heaven in doubt as to whither Divine justice
shall call them. It is a delightful thing to see them with labour and
pains issue forth from the earth, and, with arms out-stretched to heaven,
take flight; those who are already risen lifted up into the air, some
higher and some lower, with different gestures and characters. Above the
angels of the trumpets is the Son of God in majesty, in the form of a man,
with arm and strong right hand uplifted. He wrathfully curses the wicked,
and drives them from before his face into eternal fire. With His left hand