A monumental religious composition by Viktor Vasnetsov, depicting the traditional Orthodox narrative of the Last Judgement with symbolic figures and hierarchical structure.

Viktor Vasnetsov painted this monumental composition for the St. George Cathedral in Gus-Khrustalny. The work displays the artist's engagement with traditional Byzantine iconography, filtered through the aesthetic sensibilities of the late nineteenth century. The composition follows a hierarchical structure, typical of Orthodox depictions of the afterlife.

At the upper register, Christ sits in judgement, flanked by the Virgin Mary and John the Baptist. This celestial assembly is surrounded by a host of angels, rendered with a sense of solemnity. The middle section features an archangel holding scales, a figure that acts as the transition between the divine order above and the chaotic reality below. To the right, demonic entities pull figures toward the flames, while the left side shows the righteous awaiting their fate. The bottom portion of the canvas depicts the physical resurrection of the dead, with figures emerging from graves and skeletal remains scattered across the earth.

Vasnetsov utilised a palette that balances the ethereal blues and whites of the heavenly realm with the darker, more visceral tones of the infernal regions. The figures are stylised, reflecting the artist's interest in medieval Russian art and folk traditions. This approach moves away from the strict realism popular in the Academy, favouring a decorative and symbolic quality that aligns with the Russian Revival movement. The work remains a significant example of ecclesiastical art from the period, demonstrating the artist's ability to synthesise complex theological narratives into a singular, coherent visual experience. The scale and ambition of the piece reflect the broader cultural interest in national identity and spiritual heritage that defined much of Vasnetsov's career.