Let’s Look at… The Breeches Painter (Art analysis essay)
The Last Judgement, 1536-1541. Painted by Michelangelo.
You’ve probably seen images of the Sistine Chapel, a collection of paintings that includes multiple biblical scenes illustrated atop a chapel ceiling by Renaissance artist Michelangelo (1475-1564). Also, included in the room is the 48’ Last Judgment fresco, a wall painting depicting a chaotic end-of-days scene, featuring dozens of floating and writhing figures with the physiques of bodybuilders.
It was an impressive undertaking and is often praised as the inevitable work of an untouchable genius—a “Renaissance Man”.
But, look a little closer and you’ll see something odd—a man, next to the flayed skin of a sinner (bearing the uncanny resemblance to Michelangelo) is turned away with his back to the viewer, wearing what appears to be tighty whitey boxer briefs. Another man to the far right bears a cross on his back...wearing a tight thong slipping down his gluteus medius. Circle around the composition a few times and you’ll start to notice carefully placed cloth covering the most revealing parts of the (mostly) nude figures. As a fun activity, see if you can spot the man in the furry g-string.
You’d be right to question these almost comical attempts at modesty in what should be an otherwise grim and apocalyptic scene. It’s especially strange for an artist like Michelangelo who never shied away from sculpting his figures in their full glory (here’s looking at you David).
The truth is that these interventions do feel out of place because they weren’t painted by Michelangelo at all. In fact these strips of cloth were painted shortly after Michelangelo’s death, by artist Daniele da Volterra (1509-1566), who now has the unfortunate legacy of being remembered as “Il Braghetonne”...The Breeches Painter. (1)
Poor Daniele da Volterra wasn’t thrilled about painting over Michelangelo’s work but he couldn’t exactly say no to his all powerful employer, the Catholic church. It’s one of many instances of censorship throughout art history and even Michelangelo, celebrated master and genius Renaissance Man, wasn’t immune.
Works Cited:
(1) Stokstad, Marilyn, and Michael Watt Cothren. Art History. 4th ed., Pearson/Prentice Hall, 2011. Pg. 668.
