Last Judgement (Venusti)

The "Last Judgement (Venusti)" refers to a fresco depicting the Last Judgment, a common theme in Christian art, painted by Marcello Venusti. Venusti was an Italian Mannerist painter active primarily in Rome in the mid-16th century. His Last Judgement is primarily notable as a faithful, though smaller-scale, copy of Michelangelo's monumental Last Judgement in the Sistine Chapel.

Venusti's version was commissioned by Cardinal Alessandro Farnese, a patron of Michelangelo. The intention was to have a record of Michelangelo's fresco as it appeared before controversial draperies were added to some of the nude figures by Daniele da Volterra. These additions, ordered after Michelangelo's death, earned Volterra the nickname "Il Braghettone" (the breeches-maker).

Venusti's painting provides art historians with valuable insight into the original, unadorned state of Michelangelo's masterpiece. It also serves as a testament to the significant impact and immediate fame of Michelangelo's work. The painting is typically executed on panel or canvas, and resides in various collections, including museum holdings, where it is studied for its historical and artistic significance. It is not, however, considered to be of the same artistic caliber as Michelangelo's original. The primary value lies in its documentary capacity.