The ceiling of the Sistine Chapel

In 1508, Pope Julius II called Michelangelo, who at that moment was the most
gifted and sought after sculptor in all of Europe, to Rome for an ambitious
painting project: to depict the 12 apostles on the ceiling of the Sistine
Chapel, a most sacred part of the Vatican where new popes are elected and
inaugurated. It already contained wall paintings, and Michelangelo was asked
to add works for the ceiling.
Instead, Michelangelo painted 12 figuresseven prophets and five sibyls
(female prophets who, according to tradition, foretold the coming of Christ)
around the border of the ceiling, and filled the central space with the scenes
from Genesis. He placed these figures around the edges of the ceiling and
filled the central spot with nine scenes from Genesis: three of them depicting
the Creation of the World, three the stories of Adam and Eve, and three the
stories of Noah. Ignudi, or nude figures, sit in fictive architecture around
these frescoes, and they are accompanied by prophets and sibyls in the
spandrels. The grand project was completed in less than four years. In 1510,
Michelangelo took a yearlong break from painting the Sistine Chapel. The
frescoes painted after the break were characteristically different from the
ones he painted before it. The frescoes, which take up the entirety of the
vault, are among the most important paintings in the world. They feel
dimensional; they are like sculptures. Michelangelo rather carved figures out
of paint. They render both strength and elegance at the same time. His
design is spectacular, giving people the opportunity to see the stories from
the Old Testament. The most important are the nine framed scenes across
the central panel. In the center is the Creation of the world- God is
separating light from darkness to create order in the universe. Then follow
the Creation of Adam, Eve, the Fall and, by the far end the scenes of Noah.
What is interesting, although this is a catholic church there are no images of
Christ. At either end and beneath the scenes are the figures of twelve men
and women who prophesied the birth of Jesus.

The Temptation and Expulsion

Michelangelo painted the Sistine Chapel ceiling between 1508 and 1512
under the patronage of Pope Julius II. The Fall and Expulsion from the Garden
of Eden is one of nine panels that depict scenes from the book of Genesis. It
was a reminder to people that they were all sinners and they needed the
church to redeem them.

This fresco is a double image divided by the tree in the middle, but both tell
the same story of Adam and Eves fall from grace and expulsion from the
Garden of Eden. Satan is depicted as a serpent tempting Eve with the fruit.
On the left side a cherub is directing Adam and Eve away from the tree with
a sword. On the right side Eve is showed cowered behind Adams shadow.
Both of them are of smaller build, older and paler than what they appear on
the left side.
On the far left, Adam and Eve are in the garden. The landscape consists of
boulders and dark green vegetation. Their bodies are muscular and young.
Eve reaches out toward Satans outstretched arm and grasps at the fruit. The
tree of knowledge separates the panel into two parts. To the right of the tree,
Adam and Eve are shown being expelled from the garden. On the left of the
scene is Adam and Eve still innocent, yet about to eat from the Tree of
Knowledge of Good and Evil. On the right side of the scene we see both
Adam and Eve being expelled from the Garden of Eden. In the center, a
serpent spirals around the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. It offers
Eve the forbidden fruit.
In the expulsion part of this scene, we see the cherub with the sword is
banishing Adam and Eve from Paradise forever. Part of their punishment was
to lose their immortality and eternal youthfulness. You can see the difference
in the characters features when they are exiled. The young beautiful woman
on the left was transformed into someone almost completely different when
exiled. She is turned into a hideous ugly old woman with tangled hair,
wrinkled skin, and a hunched back, cowering in shame and covering her
breasts.
3. Michelangelo stands as the archetype of the Renaissance genius, with a
talent that transcends time and continues to influence and inspire
contemporary artists. He grew up and was first exposed to stone carving,
and regarded himself first and foremost as a sculptor. He preferred sculpting
because he felt he was shaping mankind, which reflected the Renaissance
era. The Renaissance encouraged everyone to express their human potential
and become a master of their universe. Michelangelos artwork consisted of
paintings and sculptures that showed humanity in its natural state, and was
not afraid to show that in front of the Pope and the other religious leaders. In
painting nude humans, he suggested the unfinished human, each of us is
born nude with a mind and a body with the power to be our own shapers.
Michelangelo reflected the Renaissance ideals through his works of art such

as the Sistine Chapel, sculptures including David and the Pieta, and
architecture including Capitoline Hill in Rome.
Due to the extraordinary talents of Michelangelo, the Sistine Chapel has
become one of the most famous art galleries in the western world. Although
painting was not his trade he decorated around 1,000 square-meters of
ceiling with a vividly colored figure painting. The frescoes had been painted
with the brightest colors that bloomed the whole ceiling as one entered the
chapel. The figures showed a new kind of beauty and power. Each of them
was a masterpiece in its conception and colors. Once you look at the ceiling
in great detail you will notice all of the little details on each figure. The
shading on the figures makes them look three dimensional. He also used
colors that make you look at the central figures in each picture. Something to
draw your attention on what the painting actually meant. These little details
showed he was a hard working painter that took his time making every
second count to create a masterpiece. In the Sistine Chapel the great
sculptor became a great painter.