Who painted The Last Judgment [right]?

The Last Judgment [right] was painted by Master of St. Erasmus in 1455.

Where can I see The Last Judgment [right]?

The Last Judgment [right] is held by National Gallery of Art.

What movement is The Last Judgment [right]?

The Last Judgment [right] is associated with Renaissance.

Artwork

The Last Judgment [right]

Master of St. Erasmus , 1455

The Last Judgment [right] is an ink print by the Renaissance artist Master of St. Erasmus. It dates from 1455 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art. Created around 1455, this black‑and‑white engraving is attributed to the anonymous artist known as the Master of St.

About this work

Overview

Created around 1455, this black‑and‑white engraving is attributed to the anonymous artist known as the Master of St. Erasmus. Executed on laid paper, the print presents a densely populated scene dominated by three prominent figures, with a central, towering figure holding a cross and a flower, flanked by two kneeling figures.

Subject & Meaning

The central figure, likely a representation of Christ, is positioned between two supplicants, suggesting a moment of intercession or judgment. Below, smaller figures appear to be either ascending or descending near a gate, evoking the traditional Christian motif of souls being admitted to heaven or cast down to hell.

Technique & Style

The image is rendered entirely through line work, employing cross‑hatching to model volume and create tonal variation. This method of overlapping parallel lines allows the artist to suggest depth and texture without the use of color, a common practice in mid‑15th‑century Northern European prints.

History & Provenance

The work is catalogued as part of the oeuvre of the Master of St. Erasmus, an anonymous engraver active in the mid‑1400s whose output is known primarily through stylistic analysis. The print’s survival on laid paper indicates it was likely intended for a relatively limited circulation among devotional or collector audiences.