Michelangelo Mocked Critic In Fresco

While Michelangelo painted The Last Judgment in the Sistine Chapel, Papal Master of Ceremonies Biagio da Cesena secretly viewed the unfinished work and criticized it as inappropriate for a sacred space. In retaliation, Michelangelo painted Biagio into the fresco as Minos, the judge of the underworld-complete with donkey ears and a snake biting his genitals. Despite complaints, the Pope refused to have the image removed, joking that his jurisdiction didn't extend to Hell.

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