Episode 79: Top 10 Apocalypse Art

Hello hello dearest listeners and blog-goers! Today we present to you our special: Top 10 Apocalypse Art pieces. For those of you who haven't had their Ancient Greek lesson, here's a quick look at what our word comes from:

From Latin apocalypsis, from Ancient Greek ἀποκάλυψις (apokalupsis, “revelation”), from ἀπό (apo, “away”) and καλύπτω (kaluptō, “I cover”).

Alrighty, with that done, let's move to Contestant Number 1:

Kris Kuksi, An Opera for the Apocalypse, 2009

 A piece rife with political, spiritual, and material conflict, this is a beautiful and haunting commentary on our view of the apocalypse.  http://kuksi.com/

Aaaaaaand Number 2:

Michelangelo, Last Judgement, 1537-1541

Alright, if you didn't see this coming, we'd be dissapointed. What strife and expression in this piece, but  espeically lovely is the artist's self-portrait in the skinned figure of St. Bartholomew.

Number 3:

Attrib. to Gislebertus, Last Judgement Tympanum at Autun Cathedrale, France, 1130 CE

Who doesn't like a little judgement now and then? Well certainly not this lot. Take special care to look at this convenient close up we have provided for you, where you can see the Mick Jagger demon on the right.

Mick Jagger look-a-like demon!

 Number 4:

Benjamin West, Death on a Pale Horse, 1817

This man rides on a horse with no name. We'd suggest Gilbert. This was chosen for its delicious violence and mayhem. Look at those gesticulating arms!

Number 5:

Hieronymus Bosch, Last Judgement Triptych, 1482

Was there anyone quite as odd as Bosch? We didn't think so either. This piece was selected for its nightmare inducing demons, and the wonderful progression from light to dark across the painting.

Number 6:

John Martin, The Great Day of His Wrath, 1851-1853

Showing the destruction of Babylon under the wrath of God, this painting will make you a god-fearing soul. This piece was chosen for its wonderful wreckage of a landscape, and the bodies hurtling into the great maw below. Reminds you of Transformers or Star Trek, right?

Number 7:

Joseph M. W. Turner, The Fifth Plague of Egypt, 1800

Although this piece doesn't actually depict the fifth plague of Egypt (it's really seventh, how embarrassing!), it does a great service in its rendering of a destroyed land. We particularly like the fallen corpses in the foreground, it's giving us the spooks as we write this.

http://www.imamuseum.org/collections/artwork/fifth-plague-egypt-joseph-mallord-william-turner

Number 8:

Dragons of the Apocalypse, 1377-1382

AREN'T. THEY. CUTE? This has to be the most adorable apocalypse image up to date. Aside from its innate charming factor, we chose this because it has simply lasted so long. It survived being cut up, frost, and, worst of all, horse stables.

Number 9:

John Hendrix, Doomsday from Disasters

Chosen for its awesome combination of text and illustrative technique. And who doesn't love the bird? http://drawnhendrix.tumblr.com/

Number 10:

Tibor Kovacs, Riders of the Apocalypse

Haunting, and yet also something endearing, this piece marks our final selection! http://www.kovacsart.hu/#p=main

Leave your thoughts and comments! Do you know of any better apocalytic images? Leave them in your comments below! Muchas gracias!

Tune in next week when Chloe and Carrie discuss French Baroque!