SIGNORELLI, Luca
(b. ca. 1450, Cortona, d. 1523, Cortona)

The Elect

1499-1502
Fresco, width 700 cm
Chapel of San Brizio, Duomo, Orvieto

There is no doubt that Luca Signorelli's portrayal of the Elect is far less convincing than his fresco of the Damned. Despite his extremely accurate studies of the human body, his depiction of Paradise is no more than a conventional catalogue of good sentiments and the overall effect is one of unmitigated dullness. The same is true of the pair of frescoes depicting the Elect being called to Paradise and the Damned being plunged into Hell.