Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel painting is one of the greatest pieces of art known to mankind. John Dixon, in his journal “Christology of Michelangelo,” breaks down in his articles the images that Michelangelo painted, he helps us understand why he painted them, in the order that he did, and what they mean. We will also look at how the Renaissance era influenced Michelangelo’s painting perspective on society and culture as described by Kimberly Abruzzo, in her text on “How the Renaissance Changed European Culture and Society.” The Sistine Chapel ceiling painting is one of Michelangelo’s greatest achievements, being a man of culture and influenced by his time, Michelangelo Sistine Chapel paintings reveals the value that his society of the …show more content…
Described in 100falcons, the painting technique that Michelangelo used is call fresco. Artist would mix sand and lime together, they would then spread it all over the wall. Colors were then applied while the wall was still wet, this had to be done in a very quick manner. “The dried the lime and colors would fuse together through some sort of chemical reaction and would become permanent” (100falcons). Fresco paintings looks like they require a lot of effort physically and mentally. It is only to presume that Michelangelo would’ve had to work on each painting in small steps, assuming he would’ve had to make a new batch of lime and sand mixture to move on to the next step. Not only does that process sound like a tedious task but the way he painted the ceiling of the chapel seemed to be a physical …show more content…
I think that this is because of the changes of cultural influences during the Renaissance era. More people and artists were changing their ways of life, “Many were focusing on more personal interest than religious demands” (Abruzzo). During this time, I believe Michelangelo became well known for his painting and sculptures, practically those that were nude. It was his way of expressing his support for humanism and a way he contributed art to his society. Paintings on the ceiling in Sistine Chapel I think supported Michelangelo’s views towards his religion and how people supported their religious beliefs during that time. Once viewers could see Michelangelo’s work of art, it was very well accepted. “Many thought it was the greatest thing that they had ever seen, they thought the figures expressed a kind of beauty and power, it was a masterpiece in conception and color”
Sistine chapel choir consisted of 24male singers who sang in four parts which were a breakdown of the voice into soprano, alto, tenor, and bass.And other higher voice were heard sing by men in the falsetto which was consisted of six per part.the ideal according to the church music of catholic liturgical tradition was to have unaccompanied voice singing directly from heart of singer to the ear of GOD.
During the Renaissance, people were dedicated to studying human works. They would observe from real life to gain inspiration, new ideas, and to try to recreate the world as they saw it in their art. New techniques such as scientific and atmospheric perspective were created, changing art forever. Artists would use their skills to create works for patrons, from the Church, various guilds, and other religious orders. During the High Renaissance, Julius II commissioned Raphael to decorate the Vatican Palace. The first of the rooms he decorated was The “Room of the Signature”, where he painted The School of Athens. Originally, this room housed Julius II’s personal library, but later on it would be the room where papal documents were signed. In 1508, Raphael began painting four frescoes that represented theology, philosophy, law, and the arts. As stated in Janson’s History of Art Volume II, This fresco “represents a summation of High Renaissance humanism, for it attempts to represent the unity of knowledge in one grand scheme.” Raphael’s The School of Athens is a prime example of humanistic art, as evidenced by the subject of the art itself, the classical elements in the piece, and it’s scientific and illusionistic rendering.
In April 1508 Pope Julius II hired Michelangelo to paint the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel (McNeese 87). The Sistine Chapel was where major papal ceremonies took place (Summers 11). Although Julius II just wanted Michelangelo to paint the ceiling of the chapel Michelangelo had bigger ideas. By 1513, Michelangelo had around 340 figures on the ceiling of the chapel.
The fresco on the Sistine chapel is arguably the greatest artwork ever completed. Central to the ceiling decoration are nine scenes from the Book of Genesis of which the most famous section is Michelangelo’s Creation of Adam.
Art, by definition, is “something that is created with imagination and skill and that is beautiful or that expresses important ideas or feelings”. Throughout history, one way that art has been used is to reflect a multitude of ideas and beliefs. Christian beliefs and ideas have been portrayed in artwork since the beginning of Christianity, although, it was not always acceptable to do so. The idea of the final judgement is a Christian idea that has been displayed in art repeatedly in a variety of ways. Michelangelo’s fresco the Last Judgment (1536-1541) is a piece that visualizes this idea. Since the time it was finished, this significant piece found in the Sistine Chapel has been continuously critiqued and analyzed. Many Christians struggle to interpret the event of a final judgment after reading it through Scripture. In analyzing Michelangelo’s piece, it is similar difficult to determine what he exactly meant to portray and what the various part of his masterpiece represent exactly. Many have examined this piece and made different regarding what exactly the various figures and objects are supposed to represent. The diverse interpretations of this work further shows the idea that when Christian ideas are reflected through artwork, it is hard to ascertain exactly what an artist intended to demonstrate. In addition, the controversies surrounding this piece represent the idea that when Christian ideas are revealed through art, there is potential for disagreement regarding what should and should not be included in Christian art. Michelangelo’s Last Judgment is just an example of what results when Christianity is brought into art.
As we read through the third chapter of "The Last Judgment and The Critics" from Bernadine Barnes's Michelangelo's Last Judgment - The Renaissance Response, it is striking to see the two completely opposite views on the fresco by the sixteenth century critics, where " those who approved of it saw it as the height of Renaissance art; those who disapproved saw it as an unsuitable use of art" and that "it was censured as the work of an arrogant man, and it was justified as a work that made celestial figures more beautiful than natural" (71). The Last Judgment dealt with an especially evocative subject, and Michelangelo engaged viewers by creating highly imaginative scenes tempering fear with hope and by referring to contemporary events. The painting's original, elite audience--the papal court and a handful of distinguished lay persons--was sophisticated about art and poetry, almost exclusively male, and orthodox in its religious beliefs. That audience later broadened and included artists allowed into the Chapel to copy Michelangelo's work. These artists helped to create another, less sophisticated audience; one that knew the fresco only through reproductions and written descriptions.
In this research paper I will be looking at two different artworks by the same artist. The two I will be looking at are the Sistine Chapel Ceiling (1508-1512) and The Last Judgment (1534). Both of these painting are painted in the Sistine chapel which is located in the Vatican. I am going to attempt to evaluate these two pieces of art painted by Michelangelo and explain the cultural and religious aspects of them. I will also look to other scholars to get their perspective and their reactions to the paintings. The last step of my research will be to formulate a theory about the relationship between culture and religion and use my topic to help defend my theory.
...ver surpass its extraordinary success. The vast collection of the antique nude arose from this age and enriched the world today with its remarkable work. It seems that as Michelangelo explains God sparked divine gifts into their intellect, gifts designed to be shared and enjoyed with the whole world.
From page 470 to 488, I enjoyed reading about Michelangelo’s life. I particularly enjoyed his reaction to the painter who received a lot of money from his painting. “As long as he wants to be rich, he will continue to be poor” (477). The comment displays a shift in attitudes toward art, it had become a profession in which one could now amass fame and fortune. As Michelangelo stated, sometimes chasing money did not equate quality.
For starters, Italy, and more specifically Rome, is famed for its rich abundance of art, architecture and for being the epicenter of the Catholic religion. The Vatican, “a city state surrounded by Rome”, houses the Sistine Chapel (Zapella). The same chapel where Michelangelo laid on his back upon a scaffolding and tediously painted a variety of scenes from the Old Testament. For four long years, Michelangelo slaved away at the frescoes, and proved how vital determination, hard-work, and most importantly a steady hand were to executing his biblical beauties
Michelangelo was an artist recognized for his work during the Italian Renaissance period. He painted, sculpted, and architected many popular pieces of art, including Sistine Chapel ceiling. Michelangelo spent 4 years painting the ceiling, beginning in 1508. The mediums used for the ceilings are gold and fresco - which is a technique that involves painting on wet plaster.
Michelangelo painted the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel during the High Renaissance era of art. Vasari Claimed that this work was both a true beacon of art, as well as enlightenment to painting that illuminated a world which for hundreds of years had been a state of darkness. Vasari may have been referring to the physical coloring of the majority of artworks done in the past hundred years or so since antiquity, as the a lot of artwork, including that done by Leonardo Da Vinci, was very dark in its coloration, which is not to say that there wasn’t painting done in a similar style to Michelangelo’s, but that there were many artists who did not paint with such vivid colors. The artwork done by Michelangelo may be seen as a beacon of art as it was
Like most art commissioned by the Catholic Church, the Sistine Chapel was intended to elevate the standing of the church and to inspire church goers in their faith. However, the creation of the Sistine Chapel frescos is not as simplistic as those who commissioned Michelangelo to paint them intended, particularly The Last Judgment fresco. Through art history researchers have discovered that the frescos Michelangelo painted were layered with hidden messages. By looking at Michelangelo’s life and religious teaching of his day, and his personal belief we can determine what the true meaning behind his work was.
Art is important to religion in many different ways. Perhaps none has analyzed how art and religion have influenced and affected each other through the ages. Pictures painted of past events that help to bring back the feeling and importance of the past have been forgotten by some. To the one’s that haven’t forgotten are able to see the event’s as the bible says they happened. Not only can you see the events, but it also allows the younger students of the church to understand the events. The use of images of God became widespread after the second century. This religious art has defiantly been around for centuries and plays an important role to the history of religion as well as the future.
One must remember when looking at these paintings all of the religious connotations that are represented in these paintings. This is an aspect that has not changed over these times as so many other elements have. Renaissance paintings bring art into a whole new world with the explorations they are achieving. They will bring you into the modern world, but for now we must remember the beauty and underlying meaning in these wonderful pieces.