The document summarizes Michelangelo's famous frescoes on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel in the Vatican. It describes the four central paintings from Genesis, including the iconic Creation of Adam. It also discusses the smaller biblical scenes, ignudi, sibyls, prophets, and ancestors of Christ depicted around the perimeter. The document highlights how the paintings established the Catholic Church's cultural supremacy during the Protestant Reformation and demonstrate Michelangelo's masterful artistic skills.

1. First created 30 Apr 2020. Version 1.0, 6 May 2020. Jerry Daperro. London.
Michelangelo’s
CeilingSistine Chapel Ceiling
Creation of Adam. 1510

2. Ceiling
Originally, Michelangelo turned down the commission. He saw himself as a sculptor and not a painter. The
work on the ceiling was started in 1508. It took 4 years (1512) to complete. It took its toll on Michelangelo
working on his back. He also refused a team of assistants to help with the paintings. After he finished the
work, he hardly painting anything until 24 years later when he started on the Last Judgment.

3. The central Four Large Paintings
At the centre of the ceiling is a row of nine paintings (4 large & 5 Smaller) from
the Book of Genesis. These four paintings are the most important. It reminds us
how we began. It provides the reason why the church exist.

4. This is one of the four larger paintings on the centre of the ceiling. The painting is
comprised of two scenes with God appears twice. With splendid foreshortening,
Michelangelo succeeded created the illusion of God floating in the air.
The Creation of Stars and Planets

5. The Creation of Stars and Planets
The Creation of the Stars and Planets (Detail. God)

6. God gives the life to Adam, at that moment man was created. Adam appears to be
without energy. He barely able to raise his arm. God on the contrary is the source of
energy. God was surrounded by characters, to form a shape that some interpreted as
reassembling a human brain or a uterus.
Creation of Adam

7. Creation of Adam

8. Creation of Adam
There speculation who the woman behind God was. The most likely interpretation is Eve.

9. Again the painting is divided into two scenes – temptation and expulsion with the Tree of
Knowledge of Good and Evil in the middle. Did Michelangelo used a male model to pose
for Eve?
The Fall and Expulsion from Garden of Eden

10. The Fall from Garden of Eden

11. The Expulsion from Garden of Eden
Eve is looking like a man.

12. Michelangelo repainted some of the scene, as he was unhappy about the work of his
assistance.
The Flood

13. The Flood

14. The Flood

15. The central Five Smaller Paintings
Noah reminds us of the obedient to God, who saved Noah from a sinful world.
Scenes of how God crated the world.

16. Drunkenness of Noah

17. Drunkenness of Noah

18. Sacrifice of Noah

19. Sacrifice of Noah

20. Creation of Eve

21. Creation of Eve

22. Separation of Earth from Waters

23. Separation of Earth from Waters

24. Separation of Light from Darkness

25. Separation of Light from Darkness

26. Ignudi

27. Ignudi

28. Ignudi

29. Sibyls
Sibyl is the Greek word meaning prophetess
from the antiquity. They are only known
through legends. Delphic Sibyl

30. Erythraeid Sibyl Persian Sibyl.
Sibyls

31. Libyan Sibyl. Cumaean Sibyl
Sibyls

32. Prophets
Amongst the sybils are the prophets
from the Bible, who foretold the
coming of Christ. Prophet Jonah.
Prophet Zechariah

33. Prophet Zechariah. Prophet Jeremiah
Prophets

34. Prophet Joel Prophet Ezekiel.
Prophets

35. Prophet Isaiah Prophet Daniel.
Prophets

36. Ancestors
of Christ
This is just one of eight panels of the
Ancestors of Christ. Each of one is
made up of the bronze ignudi at the
top, with figures painted on the
spandrel and below are the
ancestors of Christ painted on the
lunette.

37. Ancestors of Christ. Lunnette.
Elearzar and Matthan

38. Ancestors of Christ
Eleazar

39. Ancestors of Christ. Lunnette.
Jacob and Joseph

40. Jacob
Ancestors of Christ

41. Judith & Holofernes Pendentive
On the four corners of the ceiling are paintings on the pendentives. This one tells the story of Judith
and Holofernes, whose head was cut off by the Jewish heroine. Holofernes was sent by the
Assyrian king Nebuchadnezzar to punish the rebellious Israelites by destroying their city Bethulia.

42. Judith carrying the head of
Holofernes.
Judith & Holoferne

43. David & Goliath Pendentive

44. The Brazen Serpent Pendentive
One of the pendentive was painted with the story of the Brazen Serpent from the Bible. Note a
dark patch from the original ceiling was left behind for comparison. The restoration took place
between 1980 and 1994.

45. The Punishment of Haman Pendentive
The pendentive was painted with the story of the Punishment of Haman. Note dark patches from
the original ceiling was left behind for comparison. The restoration took place between 1980 and
1994.

46. Michelangelo and the Sistine Chapel
Altogether, Michelangelo spent 10 years painting the Sistine Chapel –
4 years for the ceiling and 6 years for the ‘Last Judgment’. It was his
most important painting commissions and it included a very large
proportion of his known paintings. It is not possible to talk about the
Sistine Chapel without discussing Michelangelo as a painter.
Michelangelo greatest achievements of the Sistine Chapel lies in his
imagination, animated painted figures, the frozen energetic
movements and the dramatic story that he told.
The paintings in the Sistine Chapel are symbols of power, the legitimacy and the reasons for the
existence of the Catholic Church. It was as icon of its cultural supremacy and wealth, in particular at a
time when the Catholic Church was challenged by the Protestant Reformation. Martin Luther, who
posted his challenge to the Catholic in 1517. It also marks the apogee of Roman papal power and
Italian artistic leadership of the world.
The Sistine chapel testifies Michelangelo's monumental vision, showing
humanity in all its guises and emotions, giant god-like figures modelled
on contemporaries to make a timeless message. They illustrate the
great Christian legends as didactic and moral lessons.
The frescoes were intended to inspire awe, even terror, so that believers would obey their injunction and
thus reaffirm the religious power of the Catholicism.

47. Music –If Tomorrow Never Comes. Francis Goya
The
End
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48. Rome’s Art Gallery