The Crucifixion; The Last Judgment

The Crucifixion; The Last Judgment is a monumental diptych attributed to the Early Netherlandish master Jan van Eyck, executed between 1436 and 1438. Originally painted in oil on wooden panels, the composition was later transferred to canvas, a demanding conservation technique. Eyck masterfully structured the lower panel to depict the drama of the Crucifixion on Golgotha. The scene is crowded with figures, showing Christ on the cross, flanked by soldiers and observers, with the sorrowful Virgin Mary and Mary Magdalene lamenting below, set against a distant, sweeping landscape that showcases the artist's pioneering atmospheric perspective.

The upper register illustrates the terrifying panorama of the Last Judgement. Here, Christ sits enthroned in glory, surrounded by a hierarchy of Angels holding the Instruments of the Passion, poised to separate the blessed from the damned. Below, the gruesome resurrection of the dead is rendered in meticulous detail. Skeletons rise from the earth and the sea, where monstrous creatures devour the souls of the condemned. This piece, known for the microscopic detail and vibrant colors characteristic of Eyck’s precise oil technique, offers a profound theological statement defining the fate of all Men.

This significant work of the Northern Renaissance now resides in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. Its complex narrative and detailed composition make it a frequent subject for scholarly study, and high-quality prints reflecting the original grandeur are widely available, allowing for detailed examination of Eyck’s influential vision.