Creazione di Adamo
The Artist
- Who? Michelangelo Buonarroti
- Born: 6. März 1475 in Caprese, Toskana († 18. Februar 1564 in Rom)
- Style: Renaissance
Michelangelo (full name Michelangelo di Lodovico Buonarroti Simoni) was an Italian painter, sculptor, builder (architect) and poet. He is considered one of the most important artists of the Italian High Renaissance.
Michelangelo first studied with the Florentine painter Ghirlandajo until he ran away at age 14 to become a sculptor. Lorenzo di Medici recognized the young Michelangelo's talent and took him under his care. His breakthrough came with the statue "David" in Florence, which gave him the fame of being considered, along with Leonardo da Vinci, the most important master of his time. In the following years, he received major painting commissions, such as the commission for the Sistine Chapel in 1508. In 1534 he lived in Rome for good. In the last 20 years of his life, he was engaged in architecture and took over the construction management of St. Peter's Church, thus giving the cathedral its characteristic dome.
At the 17 February 1564 Michelangelo died in Rome.
The Artwork
- Name: Creazione di Adamo
- Created around: zwischen 1508 und 1512
- Technique: Fresko
"The Creation of Adam", measuring 4.80 x 2.30 m, is part of the ceiling fresco of the Sistine Chapel and belongs to 9 individual frescoes depicting the Book of Genesis. The fresco "Creazione di Adamo" is the fourth scene of the series and is located on the large arch field of the central ridge between two triangles of the lunette vault. The work is considered a key Renaissance work and some art critics consider it the greatest biblical work of Christianity. Originally, the ceiling frescoes of the Sistine Chapel were to be limited only to the 12 apostles. However, Michelangelo expanded his work so that by the time it was completed in 1512, it had painted more than 300 figures from the Book of Genisis, the Old Testament, and classical mythology.
"The Creation of Adam" shows God bringing Adam to life with his outstretched index finger. On the left side, Adam is seen extending his index finger to God. God, seen on the right side, is wrapped in a white cloak and is shown very powerful and graceful. He also extends his index finger to Adam to breathe life into him. God is surrounded by several childlike figures as well as a female figure looking at Adam. This figure is interpreted by many art scholars as still unborn Eve.
The cluster of figures on the red cloth and the color scheme corresponds to the representation of the cross-section of a human brain, according to neuromedicine Frank Meshberger.
