MADONNA DELL’ORTO
The Last Judgement
This painting is an example of Venetian Renaissance (late, highly dramatic).
Intense, swirling composition with figures in constant motion. Strong contrasts of light and shadow create a sense of urgency and chaos. Space feels unstable, with bodies rising, falling, and twisting in every direction.
Key idea:
Less structured than earlier works—Tintoretto pushes toward drama and movement, turning the scene into a powerful, almost overwhelming vision.
COMMISSIONED
self commissioned as a donation
ARTIST
Jacopo Tinteretto: 1560
MEDIUM
oil on canvas
INTERACTIVE OVERVIEW
Whats Happening Here
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Jesus
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TITIAN PORTRAYED AS AN OLD MAN
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HISTORICAL OVERVIEW
The Story Behind the Painting
A Late Work by Tintoretto
Painted around 1559–60, this is one of the large works Tintoretto donated to the church, accepting payment only for materials
An Unusual Last Judgement
Most Last Judgment scenes show fire and clear separation between heaven and hell. Here, Tintoretto replaces that with a catastrophic flood—turning the event into something more chaotic and overwhelming
Chaos Below
The lower section is dark and dense, filled with bodies tangled among rock and water. There’s no clear boundary—figures merge into the environment, creating a sense of confusion and instability.
The Rising Waters
Above, a band of greenish water sweeps figures along in a powerful wave. The scene transitions from earth to sea, then upward into the air, where bodies begin to lift.
Light From Above
At the top, Christ appears as a distant source of light. Rays stream downward, cutting through the darkness below—offering a faint sense of order within the chaos.
Paintings of the last judgement are usually sort of chaotic, as that is part of the event, but this is extra disorderly, dark and hard to make out.
Tintoretto has depicted the event in an unusual manner, as a catastrophe involving a flood.
The lower sections show a dark base filled with contorted bodies which blend in with rock and water, an underworld without the usual fire.
Above is a band of sea green, in which there bodies are washed along in a great wave.
The middle then takes to the air, where figures sit on clouds which are still bringing rain to those in the waters below.
In the upper section, above the angel in orange, rays of light are streaming down from Jesus at the top.
THE PAINTING
3. ST JOHN THE BAPTIST
Typical Symbols & Attributes of St John the Baptist for this time period:
:
raggedy clothing: yes
twig cross: yes
lamb: no
1. JESUS
With a lily and the VM to the right and a sword and St John the Baptist to the left.
Rays of light are falling down from him thru-out this level in the air.
The top part of the painting is calmer and more organised, which as it descends becomes more and more in disarray.
1. The Virgin Mary
2. ST ANDREW
Typical Symbols & Attributes of St Andrew for this time period:
x shaped cross: no
wild hair: no
long beard: yes
book: no
6. Gaspara Contarini??:
Some think the man dressed in the clothing appropriate for this time was Gaspara Contorini. He was a cardinal whose ashes are buried in this church. He died in 1542 in Bologna but his remains were transported to Madonna del Orto in 1563, the same year Tintoretto painted this painting.
8. ST SEBASTIAN
Typical symbols & attributes used to identify St Sebastian at this time:
arrows in body: yes
shirtless: yes
young: yes
7. ST JEROME
Typical symbols & attributes used to identify St Jerome during this time:
old: yes
long beard: yes
lion: no
Book: no
Red hat: no
cross: yes
skull: no
red cape: no but red cloth present
9. ST LAWRENCE
Typical signs & attributes used to identify St Lawrence at this time:
grate or grill: yes
5. ARCHANGEL MICHAEL
Typical symbols & attributes of the Archangel Michael for this time:
banner: no
scales: yes
weighing souls: yes
sword: yes
slaying dragons or satan: no
wings: yes
11. DEVIL
The devil is hard to find in this one. He appears to be vomiting (?) on a naked women in front of him..
10. BOAT
Maybe boat of Charon transporting people to hell.
12. WOMEN
On the bottom, there are a few ladies with elaborate hairstyles and fancy dresses. They seem to be highlighted with brighter light.