Preview

Sistine Chapel Analysis

Good Essays
Open Document
Open Document
429 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Sistine Chapel Analysis
I apologize for my lengthy responses! I greatly enjoyed this section of the book, and found myself choosing several works of art that inspired me intellectually. I have a few panels within the Sistine Chapel that I was fond of. I will list them below along with my attempt to analyze them. Perhaps you can provide me with some insight and your overall opinion of this response. History commends Michelangelo for his renowned and acclaimed work on the Sistine Chapel. After careful inspection of the fresco, I noticed a few obscenities. Specifically within the panels consisting of prophets and sibyls. In addition to the chapel's interior surface, there is one distinct example of papal insult portrayed on the west wall's Last Judgement, but first I …show more content…
He was an ingenious innovator who surpassed the skills of many artists. After the Pope presented an idea of how the chapel's ceiling should be painted, the artist boldly decided to expand on what he thought was a mundane design. When reviewing the details of each panel, you can clearly see the artist's frustration with the church and in some instances Pope Julius II specifically. For example, Zechariah. Note the similarities between the prophet (Links to an external site.)and this portrait of Pope Julius II (Links to an external site.) painted by the artist Raphael. Moreover, pay attention to the hand gesture (Links to an external site.)of the overlooking putti. The cherub seems to be showing the prophet "the fig", a signal of great disrespect. Another example of Michelangelo's tense relationship with the Pope can be seen in the panel which includes Jeremiah; located directly opposite Zechariah (please see image below). The artist not only depicts the prophet showing the left side of his face while seated. The Italian word for left is sinistra, which stems from the Latin word sinister; meaning harmful, menacing, and evil. From this, we can imply that the artist was cleverly attempting to portray the Pope as evil. R. Douglas Fields mentions how Michelangelo's indignation and exhaustion towards the church come to a
Continue Reading
View Writing Issues

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Good Essays

    Chapter 22 Beauty Science and Spirit of Italian Art
    • 1001 Words
    • 5 Pages

    Chapter 22 Beauty Science and Spirit of Italian Art

    In the scene, Creation of Adam, from the Sistine Chapel ceiling God and Adam confront each other in the primordial void. Adam is part of the earth while the Lord transcends the earth. Which of the following interpretations best describes this depiction? Increasingly artists of the High Renaissance paid particular attention to the subject's personality and psychic state. This could also be said to describe the portraiture of which of the following artists? Leonardo painted the Virgin of the Rocks, and it is said this work is a masterpiece in expressing emotional states. He modeled the figures with light and shadow--a technique he learned from earlier works. Which 15th century Italian artist would have influenced Leonardo? Leonardo's style fully emerges in the cartoon, Virgin and Child with Saint Anne and the Infant Saint John. Which of the following describes this work? Michelangelo's fascination with the human body was a lifelong pursuit. In his David he presented a perfect body with an attuned mind, prepared and ready for action. Which of the following descriptions of this work would support this statement? Michelangelo's interest in urban planning can be seen in ___________. Of the following, who was one of the most important Roman patrons of Michelangelo? Paul III convened the Council of Trent in 1545. It…

    • 1001 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Powerful Essays

    Joshua MacAnespie Art History Course Project
    • 1484 Words
    • 7 Pages

    Joshua MacAnespie Art History Course Project

    In this project, you will create and deliver a presentation that answers this question: Michelangelo’s frescoes in the Sistine Chapel and Diego Rivera’s murals reflect…

    • 1484 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Powerful Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Michelangelo Buonarroti Analysis
    • 852 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Michelangelo Buonarroti Analysis

    Critics suggest that the way Michelangelo depicts the prophet Ezekiel as strong yet stressed, determined yet unsure is symbolic of Michelangelo’s sensitivity to the intrinsic complexity of the human condition. The most famous Sistine Chapel ceiling painting is the emotion-infused The Creation of Adam, in which God and Adam outstretch their hands to one another. Michelangelo continued to sculpt and paint until his death, although he increasingly worked on architectural projects as he aged: His work from 1520 to 1527 on the interior of the Medici Chapel in Florence included wall designs, windows and cornices that were unusual in their design as well as proportions and introduced startling variations on classical forms. Michelangelo also designed the iconic dome of St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome. Among his other masterpieces are Moses The Last Judgment and Day, Night, Dawn and Dusk. From the 1530s on, Michelangelo wrote poems; about 300 survive. Many incorporate the philosophy of Neo-Platonism–that a human soul, powered by love and ecstasy, can reunite with an almighty God—ideas that had been the subject of intense discussion while he was an adolescent living in Lorenzo de’ Medici’s household. After he left Florence permanently in 1534 for Rome, Michelangelo also wrote many…

    • 852 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Unit 2 DB AIU Art Appreciation
    • 497 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Unit 2 DB AIU Art Appreciation

    In the quote above, Michelangelo describes his creation of a religious symbol. Discuss with your fellow class:…

    • 497 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Powerful Essays

    The Sistine Chapel Research Paper
    • 1069 Words
    • 5 Pages

    The Sistine Chapel Research Paper

    The Sistine Chapel, located in the Vatican City, was painted by Michelangelo Buonarroti between 1508 and 1512, but the actual chapel's construction was finished in 1480 under the supervision of Pope Sixtus IV. Michelangelo accepted the commission reluctantly knowing that painting a ceiling of over 5,000 square feet, and 60 feet in the air was a near impossible task and would require him to give up his love of sculpting.…

    • 1069 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Powerful Essays
    Read More
  • Better Essays

    The Torment Of St. Anthony By Martin Schongauer
    • 1127 Words
    • 5 Pages

    The Torment Of St. Anthony By Martin Schongauer

    The figures are mainly covering the entire space. The background and few rocks adds depth and atmospheric prospective. The negative space allows the canvas to breathe and gives the eye time to rest. Some of the animals wings or arms hover the edge of the paining, forcing the eye to move all the way up to the bottom. Michelangelo’s brushstrokes are smooth in most of the painting.…

    • 1127 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Better Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Sistine Chapel Research Paper
    • 1476 Words
    • 6 Pages

    Sistine Chapel Research Paper

    I was asked by Pope Julius II to paint the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel four years ago. When he had asked me, I had been known for many great works of art but none were like the task that he was putting in front of me. He hardly asked me, though; he more so commanded me to do this job. The Pope was determined to use the arts to stamp his personality on the Vatican (Sistine Chapel Drawings). He hired many artists to do different works around the city. Sometimes it would be for sculptures, other times for drawings, and in this situation it was for paintings. My goal since the beginning had been to complete this task in four years (The Vatican). As of now, I think I will be close to finishing near that deadline.…

    • 1476 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Comparing The Papacy In Rome, And The Medici Family In Florence
    • 718 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Comparing The Papacy In Rome, And The Medici Family In Florence

    The work is a quintessential 16th century painting in many ways including innovations like mathematical perspective used to create the perfectly arranged setting, and the incorporation of classical styles through architectural details and representations of strong weighty human forms. The work presents great thinkers of classical antiquity combined into single space that did not live in same place or same time creating an ideal humanistic grouping where they can interact and debate. The central figures include philosophers Plato and Aristotle holding books they are most known for. Aside from the numerous debates on meanings within the work, the painting is a representation of what the Papacy, specifically Pope Julius II who commissioned it, values as a sign of prestige and power. To display their power they looked to the hand of the artist to create tremendously life-like paintings.…

    • 718 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Raphael Research Paper
    • 1429 Words
    • 6 Pages

    Raphael Research Paper

    It is a depiction of the earthly church, or Militant Church and Church Triumph of the Heavens. (Kren) At the top, in the center of the painting, is God. The semicircle surrounding him is the archangels. Directly below him is the son of God, Jesus Christ, with the Virgin Mary bowed on his right and St. John the Baptist on his left (Kren). The Virgin Mary was the mother of christ, while John the Baptist was the one who baptized Christ (Catholic Online). Other saints surround the trio, in individualistic, vibrant colors. At the very bottom of the picture are the saints, popes, bishops, priests, and the mass of the faithful.(Kren) Much like in the School of Athens, there are figures from history and Raphael’s present. On the right, Bramante leans on the handrail. He was an Italian architect, who was thought of as having recaptured the beauty of ancient architecture, and is now known for the development of the style of the architecture of the High Renaissance (Visual). He is speaking to a figure that is believed to be Francesco Maria Della Rovere, ruler of Urbino. Directly behind him is Pope Julius II, wearing a laurel Wreath of glory. He is the representation of Gregory the Great, who had been a Catholic Pope from the years 590 to 604 when he died. The Disputation of the Holy Sacrament is a mainly Religious Depiction, however the majority of the figures wear tunics and togas which was the clothing of the ancient…

    • 1429 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Better Essays

    What Are Michelangelo's Achievements
    • 1527 Words
    • 7 Pages

    What Are Michelangelo's Achievements

    It’s well documented that Michelangelo faced opposition surrounding his artistic interpretation of the scene and the many nudes, which were all completely nude at the time with the loincloths painted years later. One of Michelangelo’s most vocal enemies was the Pope’s master of ceremonies Biagio da Cesena, who was constantly on Michelangelo about the nudes. Michelangelo responded by painting his likeness as that of Minos, with large donkey’s ears and a snake wrapped around and biting him in a precarious spot. Better yet, it is right above the side door, the most visible spot from ground level. Cesena complained directly to the Pope, who supposedly joked that he had no power over Hell so it would have to…

    • 1527 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Better Essays
    Read More
  • Powerful Essays

    Michelangelo Research Paper
    • 1782 Words
    • 8 Pages

    Michelangelo Research Paper

    In 1505 the Pope Julius II recalled Michelangelo to Rome for two commissions. The most important one was for the frescoes of the Sistine Chapel ceiling. He worked high above the chapel floor, lying on his back on scaffolding painting for 5 years. Michelangelo painted some of the finest pictorial images of all time between "1508-1512." On the vault of the of the papal chapel, he devised an intricate system of decoration that included nine scenes from the book of Genesis, beginning with the God Separating Light from darkness and including the creation of Adam, the creation of eve, the temptation and fall of Adam and eve, and the flood. These centrally located narratives are surrounded by alternating images of prophets and sibyls on marble thrones, by other Old Testament subjects, and by the studies and cartoons, devising scores of figure types and poses. These awesome, mighty images, demonstrating Michelangelo's masterly understanding of human anatomy and movement, changed the course of painting in the West. Before the assignment of the Sistine Chapel ceiling in 1505, Michelangelo had been commissioned by Julius II to produce his tomb, which was…

    • 1782 Words
    • 8 Pages
    Powerful Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    The Sistine Chapel
    • 561 Words
    • 3 Pages

    The Sistine Chapel

    Cited: de Strobel , Anna Maria, Ester Console, Maurizio Sannibale, and Lorenzo Nigro. "The Sistine Chapel." Vatican Museums. The Vatican Museums. Web. 7 Dec 2012. <http://mv.vatican.va/3_EN/pages/CSN/CSN_Storia.html>.…

    • 561 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Powerful Essays

    Renaissance Art Influence
    • 1347 Words
    • 6 Pages

    Renaissance Art Influence

    Peter’s Basilica. The art in which followed this commission was the creation of Pieta, “The scene of the Pieta shows the Virgin Mary holding the dead body of Christ after his crucifixion, death, and removal from the cross, but before he was placed in the tomb,” (Italianrenaissance.org). Michelangelo stated that the block of marble he used to produce this sculpture was the most perfect block he ever used. An indicator of its rarity and uniqueness is that the sculpture is multi-figured; this was something that was very rare in that period of time. Furthermore, the proportions of the Virgin’s body is larger that Christ’s body; however, this was caused by the garments on her lap flowing into an abundance of drapery making her appear much larger. It can be examined that the Virgin is experiencing utter sadness and devastation: she seems resigned to what has happened, and becomes enveloped in graceful acceptance. Furthermore, Christ is depicted almost as if he is in a peaceful slumber, and not one who has been bloodied and bruised after hours of torture and suffering. Overall, these two figures are beautiful and idealized, despite their suffering. This reflects the High Renaissance belief in Neo-Platonic ideals in that beauty on earth reflected God’s beauty, so these beautiful figures were echoing the beauty of…

    • 1347 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Powerful Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    High Middle Ages Religion
    • 1002 Words
    • 5 Pages

    High Middle Ages Religion

    Even though this is the Renaissance Era, there is still a lot of focus on religion, especially the church. Since the Renaissance Era came right after the Middle Ages Era, there was no way that the influence of Christianity would die out so quick. The intense religious practice is still around from the Middle Ages Era and so the Pope and the church still hold immense power. Pope Julius II wants to unite Italy under the leadership of the Vatican and show Europe the power of the church. He went and asked Michelangelo to paint the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel with religious themes since the chapel is often used for meetings and gather of the masses. Therefore, the pope can show his influence to the people. Michelangelo declined the offer at first, since he preferred to sculpt rather than to paint. However, since the church is an important patron for arts and was centered in Italy, Michelangelo had no choice but to comply. Painting the ceiling of the church was a hard and painful process. The ceiling is 700 square yards and in order to paint the ceiling, Michelangelo…

    • 1002 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    The Last Judgement Essay Example
    • 542 Words
    • 3 Pages

    The Last Judgement Essay Example

    The Last Judgment is a fresco by Michelangelo on the altar wall of the Sistine Chapel in Vatican City. It took four years to complete and was executed from 1537 to 1541. Michelangelo began working on it three decades after having finished the ceiling of the chapel. The work is massive and spans the entire wall behind the altar of the Sistine Chapel. It is a depiction of the second coming of Christ and the apocalypse. The souls of humans rise and descend to their fates, as judged by Christ surrounded by his saints. The Last Judgment was an object of a heavy dispute between Cardinal Carafa and Michelangelo: the artist was accused of immorality and intolerable obscenity, having depicted naked figures, with genitals in evidence, inside the most important church of Christianity, so a censorship campaign (known as the "Fig-Leaf Campaign") was organized by Carafa and Monsignor Sernini (Mantua's ambassador) to remove the frescoes. When the Pope's own Master of Ceremonies, Biagio da Cesena, said "it was mostly disgraceful that in so sacred a place there should have been depicted all those nude figures, exposing themselves so shamefully," and that it was no work for a papal chapel but rather "for the public baths and taverns," Michelangelo worked Cesena's face into the scene as Minos, judge of the underworld (far bottom-right corner of the painting) with Donkey ears {i.e. foolishness} while his nudity is covered by a coiled snake. It is said that when Cesena complained to the Pope, the pontiff joked that his jurisdiction did not extend to hell, so the portrait would have to remain. The genitalia in the fresco were covered 24 years later (when the Council of Trent condemned nudity in religious art) by the artist Daniele da Volterra, whom history remembers by the derogatory nickname "Il Braghettone" ("the breeches-painter"). In the painting, Michelangelo does a self portrait depicting himself as St. Bartholomew after he had been flayed (skinned alive).…

    • 542 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More

Related Topics