This Painting Is Michelangelo's Only Self-Portrait

Most artists leave behind a signature. Michelangelo left behind a flayed face.

In this video, we explore the one and only time Michelangelo painted himself — hidden in plain sight on the altar wall of the Sistine Chapel. It’s not where you’d expect. And it’s not how anyone wants to be remembered.

Why did he paint his own skin?
Why did he place himself in the hands of a martyr?
And what does this quiet, horrifying detail say about the most celebrated artist of the Renaissance?

We break down the story behind The Last Judgment, the meaning of Saint Bartholomew, and the haunting self-portrait that most people miss.