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1270 Illumination University of Oxford, Bodleian Library, Oxford 34 35 Galba; under Vespasian and Titus, peace, in the year 71 CE succeeded war, and – the end of the world still did not come to pass. Once more, it became necessary to reinterpret the words of the evangelists. The coming of Christ was put off until after the fall of the Roman Empire, and thus considerable margin was given to the commentator. A firm belief in a final and even an The Infernal Chaos around Satan Atributted to Coppo di Marcovaldo, c.

The Last Judgement Giotto di Bondone, 1303-1305 Fresco Capella degli Scrovegni (Arena Chapel), Padua 50 St Jerome and St Augustine did much to discredit these views, but did not attack the central doctrine of a resurrection. Comments about the apocalypse continued to flourish through the sombre darkness of the Middle Ages, and in the th 10 century the belief gained ground that the year 1000 was to usher in the great change. Christ in Glory Among the Saints or The Last Judgement Andrea di Cione Orcagna, 1354-1357 Fresco Cappella Strozzi, Santa Maria Novella, Florence 52 This conviction of an approaching end of the world, if not universal, was at least very general.

The Last Judgement End of the 14th century Oil on wood mounted on canvas Musée des Arts décoratifs, Paris 60 61 He even fixed the fatal day itself, as that on which “The Annunciation” and Holy Friday should fall on the same day, a coincidence which occurred in 992. Druthmar, a monk of Corbie, prophesied the end of the world for 24 March 1000. In many cities, popular terror was so great on that day that people sought refuge in the churches, The Last Judgement (detail) Jan Van Eyck, c. 7 cm The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York 62 63 remaining until midnight, prostrate before the relics of the saints in order to await the last sing of Judgement and die at the foot of the cross.