"The 50 Paintings " Project

Painting # 9

"Creation of Adam" by Michaelangelo Buonarroti

                        Michaelangelo painted this painting on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel

 in the Vatican 504 years back. He was known as a Sculptor par excellence and had gone to Rome on the Pope Julius's invitation to build the Pope's tomb and carve out statues . However he was given this task of painting the ceiling of the Sistine chapel too.  

God is the elderly , white bearded figure on the right and on the left is Adam. God is stretching out his right arm towards Adam to impart the Spark of Life to him.

Note the red carpet like structure behind God...It resembles the human brain. Michaelangelo had an extensive knowledge of human anatomy and it is believed he included the brain in this composition to show that God is imparting the Spark of Intellect to Man . 

Adam is sitting almost like a mirror image of God symbolizing "God Created Man in his own likeness"

The ceiling of the Chapel

Michaelangelo painted fast  on wet plaster (before it dried completely ) and when the plaster dried the colour became permanent....Thats why it is called a 'Fresco'  

Remember "The Last Supper" by Leonardo da Vinci? (Painting # 3)

Well thats also on a wall but not a true fresco because Vinci worked on dried plaster to allow him to go at a slower pace. 

Hope you enjoyed it...XOXO