Artwork
The Last Judgement
The Last Judgement is an ink print by the Renaissance artist Léonard Gaultier. It dates from 1600 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
The Last Judgement is an engraving on laid paper created by Léonard Gaultier around 1600. It is a print that showcases Gaultier's skillful use of the engraving technique to depict a complex biblical scene.
Subject & Meaning
The engraving illustrates the Last Judgement, a common theme in religious art of the time. The scene is crowded with figures, some ascending and others descending, around a central robed figure holding a cross, while faces in ovals observe from the top corners.
Technique & Style
Gaultier's work is characterized by precise, detailed engraving executed entirely with a graver. The print's texture is achieved through layered lines creating shadows, demonstrating a technique typical of engraving workshops of the period, such as those of the Wierix and Crispyn van de Passe.
History & Provenance
Léonard Gaultier, born in Mainz around 1561, was active in Paris until his death in 1641. The Last Judgement is now part of the National Gallery of Art's collection in Washington.
Artist & collection
Artist
Léonard Gaultier, or, as he sometimes signed himself, Galter, a French engraver, was born at Mainz about 1561, and died in Paris in 1641.
