Will Memling’s Last Judgement go to Rome?

Hans Memling, a leading painter of the Northern Renaissance, painted a spectacular representation of the Last Judgment in 1467.

The 15th century triptych by the German-born painter was to have been shown at a monograph exhibition of Memling’s works, opening in the Italian capital on 10 October.

The conservator told a press conference in Gdansk that he did not have any reservations relating to the transportation of the triptych or its display in Rome but stressed that without comprehensive tests of its condition the journey to Italy would involve too high a risk.

In his view, the variations in temperature and humidity in the room in which ‘The Last Judgement’ is currently displayed are too high.

“This can cause damage to the wooden base of the triptych,” he stressed, pointing out that a thin layer of tin foil that has been discovered under the paint in some places has resulted in cracks of the paint.

The National Museum has said it would be appeal to the Ministry of Culture to intervene in the case.

The ‘Hans Memling's triptych of the Last Judgement was painted for the chapel dedicated to St. Michael in the Badia Fiesolana near Florence, although it never made it to Italy.

Commissioned by a Florentine banker it was shipped on a galley that was attacked by pirates, who took the painting as part of their loot to Gdansk (Danzig). (mk/pg)