The huge fresco behind the chapel's altar, The Last Judgement, was also painted by Michelangelo. Though it's by the same artist in the same space, this fresco was completed in 1541, more than 25 years after Michelangelo had finished the ceiling frescoes in the chapel, according to the Vatican Museums. At the time, Michelangelo would have been 67, older and more tired than when he had first run up against the difficulties of painting in the chapel.
Though Michelangelo wasn't really afraid to break with religious views of his time, he stuck with some traditions for this monumental work. Like in other paintings of the Christian Last Judgement, says Khan Academy, you're supposed to read the piece in a ring shape. Though it's a massive artwork with over 300 figures twisting and turning within your field of vision, there's a method to understanding it that will make its seeming chaos clear.
Generally speaking, the souls of the saved rise up to Heaven on the left, helped along by friendly angels. On the right, the damned fall down on their way to Hell, also helped on their path by somewhat less friendly demons. The whole composition rotates around the figures of Jesus and Mary in the middle, with Jesus taking center stage as a muscular, avenging God.
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