description Last Judgment Triptych (Gdańsk) Overview
The Last Judgment Triptych in Gdańsk is a large oil on panel work painted by Hans Memling around 1467 to 1471 for the Florentine banker Angelo Tani. Its central panel shows Christ judging the dead above the archangel Michael, while the wings divide the saved from the damned. The triptych was seized at sea from a ship bound for Italy and eventually entered St. Mary's Church in Gdańsk; it is now displayed in the city's National Museum.
help Last Judgment Triptych (Gdańsk) FAQ
Why is Archangel Michael weighing souls in the center of the Last Judgment Triptych?
Michael stands beneath Christ and uses a balance to separate the saved from the damned, a standard feature of medieval Last Judgment imagery. Hans Memling makes the judgment especially immediate by placing the resurrected dead around Michael's feet.
Who commissioned the Gdańsk Last Judgment Triptych?
The Florentine banker Angelo Tani commissioned it from Hans Memling around 1467 to 1471. Tani was associated with the Bruges branch of the Medici bank, which helps explain why a Netherlandish painter made the work for an Italian patron.
How did a Florentine commission end up in Gdańsk?
The triptych was being transported by sea when the ship carrying it was captured by the privateer Paul Beneke in 1473. The work was subsequently taken to Gdańsk and installed in St. Mary's Church.
Where can the Last Judgment Triptych be seen today?
The original is held by the National Museum in Gdańsk. It is closely associated with St. Mary's Church, its historic home in the city, but visitors should check the museum's current display information before traveling.
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