Fresco of Michelangelo "The Creation of Adam". Description and history of creation

"The Creation of Adam" - one of 9 frescoes, written on biblical subjects and composing the compositional center of the ceiling painting of the Sistine Chapel. Its author is Michelangelo Buonarroti (1475-1564).

Prehistory

Michelangelo is a renowned painter and sculptor of the Renaissance. He lived a long and fruitful life. Born in 1475, already in the late 80-ies of the XV century, he began to study sculpture and fine arts, and in the early 90's he created his first independent works. Even in these youthful works (the author is 15-17 years old), the inclinations of a future genius are noticeable. By the beginning of the XVI century, Michelangelo was already quite a famous sculptor.

In 1505, Pope of Rome invited him to create his own tomb, work on which lasted almost 40 years. But the painting of the vaults of the Sistine Chapel, commissioned by the same Julius II, was completed by Michelangelo in record time. Only 4 years it took him to create dozens of frescoes with a total area of 600 m², which depicts more than 300 figures. The fresco "The Creation of Adam" - one of the central in the entire composition.

Art historians note that for painting the arches Michelangelo undertook with great reluctance. He proposed to entrust this case to Raphael, but Julius II was adamant. Gradually, the work attracted the artist, so was created a masterpiece of monumental art.

The Sistine Chapel

The building of the chapel was built at the end of the XV century by order of Pope Sixtus IV. At present, this is one of the most important places in the Catholic world. It is in this building that a conclave of archbishops and cardinals gathers to select a new pope.

According to the idea of Sixtus IV, the chapel should have been a reminiscent of a fortress, symbolizing the impregnable center, the heart of the Catholic church, and showing the power of the Pope in an interior decoration.

The building was built by an architect from Florence George de Dolce, and Botticelli, Rossely, Perugino, Michelangelo and other famous artists of the time were engaged in painting and decorating the interior. The beauty and grandeur of the biblical characters at first sight is conquered by the Sistine Chapel. "The Creation of Adam" - a fresco that occupies one of the central places in the mural, it is also one of the most expressive.

Sistine Chapel Vaults

On the ceiling of the chapel, Michelangelo created a grand ensemble, in the center of which are placed 9 plots from the Old Testament. The first story is "The separation of light from darkness", the last one is Noah's intoxication. The frescoes "The Creation of Adam", "The Creation of Eve" and "The Fall" occupy the central place in the composition.

On the perimeter of the frescoes of the central field are figures of young men and women, prophets and sibyls, and the sidewalls of the vault are painted with stories from the Old Testament and represent the predecessors of Jesus Christ.

When Michelangelo took up the painting, he had neither the knowledge nor the experience of making frescoes. To help him, experts from Florence were invited. But very soon the sculptor surpassed them in technique. After driving assistants, he alone completed the painting of a huge ceiling.

The solemn opening of the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel was timed to coincide with the All Saints' Day in October 1512. The first audience was struck by the beauty and titanic images, the colossal size of the painting, distinguished by the unity of the plot. However, five centuries later this work continues to fascinate and fascinate.

"The Creation of Adam" (Michelangelo). Description

The plot was taken from the Old Testament. The Bible says that God created man in his own image and likeness. The image can be conditionally divided into 2 parts. Above and to the right is the Lord. He appears in the image of a gray-haired, but full physical strength of the elder. He is surrounded by a host of angels. Finish the image of the red draperies. They reinforce the impression, conveying a sense of energy and strength.

Below and to the left is a figure of Adam. He is a beautiful young man. His strength is not yet awakened, he reaches out to God with a weak hand. The hand of the Lord is about to touch it and give the person life energy. When the two hands touch, the act of creation will end.

Features of painting

The fresco "The Creation of Adam" stands out among the others created by Michelangelo. Probably, this plot particularly excited him. It is noteworthy that it depicts not the physical creation of man, but the transmission of his life energy - souls, sparks of God. The artist managed to show the dynamics and drama of the scene.

Art historians note that Adam Michelangelo stretches his hand not only to God, but also to Eve. She is not yet born, the Almighty covers her with her left hand.

Until recently, Michelangelo was considered a bad colorist, noticing that the images created by him are more like painted statues. However, the restoration work allowed to restore the original color of the frescoes. For the "Creation of Adam" scene, rich tones of various shades were used. According to the picturesque technique, this work can be put on a par with those created by the predecessors of Michelangelo, Giotto and Masaccio.