Hans Memling The Last Judgement – a masterpiece that has become an icon of Gdańsk
- Damian Brzeski
- Jun 7
- 9 min read
How did one work of art become a city icon? The story of Hans Memling's Last Judgment triptych is not only a fascinating tale of artistic genius, but also a twisting journey through centuries, wars and continents.
Why did a painting created for a Florentine chapel end up in Gdańsk? What makes it continue to amaze us for over 550 years? And how did the golden ball from under Christ's feet become a symbol of the entire city? You will find the answers in the rest of the article.

Who was Hans Memling? – biography and works
Hans Memling (born ca. 1435 in Seligenstadt, died 1494 in Bruges) is one of the key figures of Netherlandish painting and the early Northern Renaissance. Although he came from Germany, his entire artistic career was linked to the Netherlands, where he gained fame and fortune.
He probably trained first with Stephan Lochner in Cologne, later under Rogier van der Weyden in Brussels.
From 1465 he lived and worked in Bruges. In 1467 he became a full citizen of the city of Gdańsk , and his studio flourished - he had many students, clients and a solid reputation. Memling's style is a mixture of calmness, lyricism, harmony of colors and extraordinary precision in details.
He was inspired by both the achievements of Jan van Eyck and the Dutch Gothic tradition – but with his own subtle touch. In contrast to van der Weyden’s drama, Memling’s paintings captivated with their soft tonal transitions and delicate light.
He was a master of oil and tempera techniques . His oeuvre ranged from intimate portraits to complex religious compositions. The images of people emerged from his brush with incredible ease – a perfect balance between realism and gentle idealization.
The Last Judgement Triptych - the most important work in Hans Memling's oeuvre
However, it was his monumental triptych depicting the Last Judgment , completed between 1467 and 1471, that brought him true fame. The Last Judgment is not only Memling's first major work – it is also his most famous and recognizable painting.
Hans Memling's Triptych is a true masterpiece of Dutch painting, in which the artist created a suggestive vision of the Last Judgement – full of emotion, drama and narrative momentum. It is because of this canvas that Hans Memling's authorship has become a permanent part of art history.
Today, we can admire this priceless painting by Memling in the collection of the National Museum in Gdańsk , where it attracts crowds of tourists and art lovers. Memling's painting , despite the passage of centuries, does not lose its relevance - its message and aesthetics still make a huge impression.
In other works, Memling often used the motif of the Sacra Conversazione , as in the triptych "The Mystical Marriage of St. Catherine", and also painted tender Madonnas and Child – considered the quintessence of maternal mood in Netherlandish painting .
Hans Memling is an artist whose craftsmanship and style shaped the face of an era. His Last Judgement painted with passion and reverence will forever be remembered as one of Memling's most valuable and famous works .
In the collections of the National Museum, this masterpiece by Memling occupies a special place – both in terms of its artistic and symbolic value.
If you are wondering what is worth seeing in Gdańsk – Memling's valuable painting is a must-see on the map of every art lover.

Triptych "The Last Judgement" - The history of Hans Memling's painting and its significance for Gdańsk
Behind the scenes of the creation of the triptych "The Last Judgment" lies a story like from a movie - full of plot twists, sea adventures and historical dramas.
The work was commissioned around 1467 by Angelo di Jacopo Tani, a Florentine banker who worked for the Medici bank in Bruges.
Hans Memling's triptych was intended to decorate the family chapel in Badia Fiesolana, Italy. The Last Judgement itself was painted in the years 1467–1471, using tempera and oil on oak boards – even then it was considered an outstanding achievement of Netherlandish painting .
Memling's Last Judgement and his travels around Europe
But fate had other plans. In 1473, during transport to Italy, the painting was intercepted by Gdańsk pirates led by Paweł Beneke. The loot ended up in St. Mary's Church in Gdańsk as a votive offering – and so began the long and ambiguous history of Hans Memling's painting . Although initially intended for Florence, it was associated with Gdańsk for over 550 years.
Century after century, the Last Judgement grew into a legend. In 1807, it was taken as a war booty to the Louvre, but after Napoleon's fall, it was returned to Gdansk. World War II? It was taken away again, this time by the Germans, and then it ended up in the Hermitage in Leningrad.
It was not until 1958 that it returned to Poland to take its place of honour in the National Museum in Gdańsk , formerly known as the Pomeranian Museum. Today, only a faithful copy hangs in St. Mary's Church – Memling's priceless work can only be admired in the museum.
How big is the image?
The work stands out not only for its extraordinary history, but also for its form. It has impressive dimensions – 242 cm high and as much as 360 cm wide. The central panel (180.8 cm) dominates the side panels (90 cm each). It was here that Memling created his most evocative vision of the Last Judgement .
In the center of the composition – Christ as Judge, sitting on a rainbow, with Mary, John the Baptist and the apostles. Under his feet a golden ball – a symbol of the Universe. In front of him is the Archangel Michael, dividing the souls of the dead.
On the left, salvation, on the right, damnation – a classic depiction of the Last Judgement , but with so much detail and symbolism that one can look at it for hours.
There are angels with a dove, there are scenes of creation and annunciation, a lily as a symbol of martyrdom, a peacock as a metaphor for pride... Nothing here is accidental.
It is no wonder that the triptych depicting the Judgement is today considered one of Memling's best-preserved and most valuable known works .
This is Memling's true masterpiece – a vivid tale of sin and salvation, set in the aesthetics of the late Middle Ages.
Thanks to its excellent state of preservation and its unique history, this work is treated as a valuable painting by Memling – unique on a global scale.
For Polish collections, it is a pearl – the only work of the artist in our country, as Dr. Magdalena Mielnik says. And for good reason! If you are in Gdańsk – be sure to visit the branch of the National Museum , where you will find this treasure. Memling's painting not only catches the eye – it simply stays in the mind for a long time.
Thus, although Hans Memling's creation was to serve the Florentine chapel, fate had other plans. Thanks to this, today in Poland we have the author of the Last Judgement , who has captivated subsequent generations - and still speaks to us from boards covered with paint and light.
Where can I watch Gdańsk's Memling?
Currently, the original Last Judgement triptych is in the collection of the National Museum in Gdańsk (Department of Old Art) . The main building of the department of old art is located in the historic late Gothic Franciscan monastery at ul. Toruńska 1.
Until the beginning of 2025, the triptych was displayed in the permanent exhibition of this branch , where – as one of the accounts emphasises – visitors could "contemplate it in silence and concentration".
Temporarily unavailable The Last Judgement by Hans Memling for visitors
However, due to conservation work, the work is currently temporarily unavailable to the public. From February 3, 2025 to the end of 2026, the triptych was withdrawn from the Museum's exhibition (it was moved to a specially prepared research room).
The museum informs that scientific research and digital scanning of the image are being conducted in parallel, and the aim of these activities is to prepare a new, modern exhibition ensuring better accessibility of the work to visitors.
Until the conservation work is completed, tourists can only see documentation, a copy or fragments presented in other forms. It is also worth adding that a copy of the work currently stands in St. Mary's Church (where the altar originally hung) - the original remains in the museum's collections permanently.

The Last Judgement as a tourist magnet for Gdańsk
The triptych depicting the Judgement by Hans Memling is a true pearl in the collection of the National Museum in Gdańsk . This priceless painting by Memling , the only original by the artist available in Poland, has been attracting crowds of visitors from Poland and abroad for years.
It is not only Memling's masterpiece , but also a symbol of the Pomeranian heritage and a tourist calling card of the city.
According to local sources, people come to Gdańsk from the farthest corners of the globe to see this particular painting by Memling . No wonder – it is one of the most valuable works in Polish collections, considered to be equal to the greatest classics of European painting.
How One Work of Art Became an Icon of a City and Attracts Tourists from Around the World
The Last Judgment is not only a pearl of art, but also the hero of effective campaigns promoting cultural tourism in Gdańsk .
In 2016–2018, the National Museum, in cooperation with the TOFU Studio agency, implemented the famous “Golden Campaign” – inspired by the golden ball from under the feet of Christ from the triptych.
The golden tram, billboards and promotional films attracted attention and permanently inscribed Hans Memling's triptych in the urban space and the awareness of tourists.
In 2017, the work inspired an opera by Krzysztof Knittel. As part of the Memling Year, competitions and exhibitions were also held, and a mural with the motif of weighing souls was created in Gdańsk's Zaspa .
The image has appeared in the media, city events and educational projects – becoming a living symbol of the city that continues to capture the imagination.
Memling's valuable painting , part of the collection of the National Museum , is today not only a masterpiece of Dutch art, but also a tourist phenomenon. It shows how one work can become a driving force for the promotion of a city and give it a distinct cultural identity.
Using "Memling's Last Judgement" and the figure of Hans Memling in the promotion of Gdańsk and Pomerania
Hans Memling's work today serves as a showcase for Gdańsk and the entire region. It regularly appears in promotional materials as a symbol of the city's cultural identity. In addition to the "Golden Campaign", films about the triptych were also made, and its motifs were used in the graphic identification of exhibitions.
In 2016, Andrzej Nowakowski published a monograph entitled The Court. Hans Memling's "The Last Judgment" , which introduced the painting into a broader public discourse.
In Gdańsk tourist materials and on the Pomorskie.travel website , the Last Judgment is listed as the city’s biggest attraction – even called “the most valuable painting in Gdańsk”.
Joint activities of institutions such as the National Museum , the City Hall, the National Cultural Centre and local media ensure that Memling's masterpiece is constantly present in cultural events – from festivals to social campaigns.
The golden ball from the painting became an informal symbol – it found its way onto a mural, among other things, and even into the logos of city events.
Thanks to these actions, Hans Memling's authorship was not only recalled, but also modernized. The triptych presenting the Court today promotes Gdańsk and Pomerania both in Poland and abroad – with great success.
How the Last Judgement has entered the culture and imagination of an entire continent
The subject of the Last Judgement was very popular in 15th-century Dutch painting – before Hans Memling took up the subject, Rogier van der Weyden and Dirk Bouts, among others, had created their visions. Hans Memling's triptych, however, stands out from the earlier works.
The artist not only expanded the composition with numerous scenes and a wealth of symbols, but also gave the whole a more harmonious and softer character. In contrast to van der Weyden's dramatic style, Memling focused on gentleness, subtlety and balanced colors.
In European culture, his style and vision of the Last Judgement became a hallmark of the Northern Renaissance. In the late 18th century, a romantic legend even arose around him – he was supposed to be a wounded soldier who found meaning in life through art.
This story fit perfectly with the sensibilities of the time, making Memling a hero of the German artistic imagination.
Today, Memling's masterpiece continues to inspire. Motifs from the triptych have found their way into music (e.g. metal album covers), visual art, literature, and even Gdańsk murals and musical performances.
His influence can also be seen in the development of religious iconography throughout Europe – particularly in the popularisation of the motif of the Sacra Conversazione.
Memling's painting is now placed alongside masters such as Jan van Eyck, Albrecht Dürer and Hans Holbein. His work shows how strong the connections between the medieval tradition and the ideals of the Renaissance can be.
The triptych depicting the Court is not only a symbol of Gdańsk – it is one of the most important contributions of Dutch art to the cultural heritage of Europe.
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