THE DIVINE BRUSHSTROKES: MICHELANGELO’S VISION OF HUMANITY IN THE SISTINE CHAPEL
“The greater danger for most of us lies not in setting our aim too high and falling short; but in setting our aim too low and achieving our mark.”
-Michelangelo
MICHELANGELO BUONARROTI
Michelangelo di Lodovico Buonarroti Simoni, born on March 6, 1475, in Caprese, Italy, was a renowned Italian High Renaissance artist skilled in painting, sculpture, and architecture. He showed an early passion for sculpture and trained under painter Domenico Ghirlandaio. Michelangelo gained the attention of influential patrons, including Lorenzo de’ Medici, and studied at his Humanist Academy. Known as “Il Divino” for his exceptional talent, Michelangelo is celebrated for masterpieces like the Pietà and David, with the Sistine Chapel ceiling considered his greatest work.
SISTINE CHAPEL AND CEILING
The Sistine Chapel, located in Vatican City, Rome, was commissioned by Pope Julius II in 1508 for Michelangelo to paint its ceiling, a project completed from 1508 to 1512. The frescoes depict the history of humanity and are named after Pope Sixtus IV. The chapel serves as a significant religious site for major papal ceremonies and the election of new popes. It is also considered similar to the Temple of Solomon in Jerusalem, as described in the Bible.
The exterior of the Sistine Chapel is plain, but its interior is adorned with intricate Renaissance frescoes, including scenes from the Old Testament. Michelangelo painted The Last Judgment on the west wall between 1534 and 1541. These two monumental frescoes are considered some of the greatest achievements in Western painting.
(“Gallery of Sistine Chapel ceiling”, n.d.)
Michelangelo painted the Sistine Chapel’s ceiling frescoes from 1508 to 1512, featuring 9 panels from the Book of Genesis. The ceiling is divided into 3 phases: the first phase depicts the creation of the world, including God dividing light from darkness and creating the sun, moon, and plants. The second phase shows the creation of Adam, Eve, and their expulsion. The third phase focuses on Noah’s story, including the flood, Noah’s sacrifice, and his drunkenness.
Michelangelo painted the Sistine Chapel ceiling in reverse chronological order, starting with Noah’s story and working backward to the Creation. This was a deliberate choice, influenced by Plato’s philosophy, which suggested that man must free himself from the body to return to his divine origin. By beginning with Noah and ending with Creation, Michelangelo reflected this concept in his work.
The ceilings are painted with fresco technique. Fresco is the Italian word which means fresh, it is a form of mural painting. Raw coloured stones and then it turns into pigment by grinding them into a fine powder. Then add the water and make a thin paste of this. Layer of fresh plaster on the wall or ceilings, while the plaster is still wet doing work on them before it dries.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
- “Early Life and Training.” 2010. Michelangelo – Paintings, Sistine Chapel & David. https://www.history.com/topics/renaissance/michelangelo.
- “Sistine Chapel | History, Paintings, & Facts | Britannica.” 2023. Encyclopedia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/topic/Sistine-Chapel.
- “Sistine Chapel: Ceiling – Michelangelo 1 of 2 | 3D virtual tour & documentary.” 2020. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PI0meIFA69M.
Photograph
- “Gallery of Sistine Chapel ceiling.” n.d. Photograph. Wikipedia. Accessed May 9, 2023. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gallery_of_Sistine_Chapel_ceiling.
About the Author:
Author: RAVEENA
I am Graduated with a degree in B.A Programme from the Maitreyi College, Delhi University. I completed a Post-Graduation in the History of Art from the National Museum Institute, New Delhi. In 2024, I completed a six-month internship in the Archaeological Department of the National Museum, New Delhi.
