Michelangelo: Master of the Renaissance
Michelangelo
Biographical Aspects
Michelangelo is a towering figure of the Italian Renaissance, whose artistic genius dominated the 16th century. He excelled in painting, sculpture, and architecture, achieving extraordinary results. His contemporaries recognized a unique quality in him, known as terribilità, encompassing emotional intensity, physical power, and creative passion.
Michelangelo’s life unfolded primarily in Florence and Rome. He learned painting in the workshop of Ghirlandaio and sculpture in the Medici gardens. In 1496, he moved to Rome, where two sculptures propelled him to fame: the Bacchus and the Pietà, both renowned for their beauty and impeccable craftsmanship.
Upon returning to Florence, Michelangelo received various commissions, including the iconic David. Pope Julius II summoned him back to Rome to sculpt his tomb, resulting in the Moses, two other statues, and the unfinished Slaves. He also began work on the Sistine Chapel ceiling, a project he initially resisted as he considered himself primarily a sculptor. However, it became his most sublime creation.
Back in Florence, Michelangelo undertook architectural projects like the Laurentian Library and the Medici Chapel. The library’s unique staircase creates a sense of monumentality within a limited space. The Medici Chapel houses tombs, including statues of the deceased.
Michelangelo eventually settled in Rome, where he painted the Last Judgment in the Sistine Chapel and oversaw the construction of St. Peter’s Basilica.
Sistine Chapel Frescoes
Completed in just four years, the Sistine Chapel frescoes feature cool blues and tones, achieving a high level of expressiveness. The figures have sharp profiles, conveying a sculptural volume. Michelangelo employed a loose brush technique, capturing grand postures and a masterful study of composition and expression. The figures are voluminous, with dynamic twists and turns.
The central theme of the ceiling is the period before Moses, representing the world from creation to the fall of man. It also includes a series of sibyls and prophets.
Distribution of the Main Scenes
The central sector of the vault depicts ten scenes from Genesis:
- The Flood
- Noah’s Sacrifice
- The Drunkenness of Noah
- The Fall and Expulsion from Paradise
- The Creation of Eve
- The Creation of Adam
- God Separating the Land from the Waters
- The Creation of the Sun, Moon, and Stars
- The Creation of Planets
- God Dividing Light from Darkness
Each scene is flanked by four nude male figures. At each end, a prophet completes the composition. The Delphic Sibyl stands out as the most famous and beautiful.
The Creation of Adam
The Creation of Adam, a quintessential Renaissance fresco, resides in the Sistine Chapel. It is one of the most renowned scenes on the ceiling, depicting God as a majestic old man with a flowing beard, wrapped in a purple robe, surrounded by wingless angels. God’s outstretched right hand transmits the spark of life to Adam’s left hand, mirroring God’s gesture. The scene is highly dramatic and dynamic.
The Last Judgment
The Last Judgment, another monumental fresco by Michelangelo, covers the altar wall of the Sistine Chapel. It portrays the apocalyptic scene of judgment, presided over by a menacing Christ. Beside him is Mary, expressing profound melancholy, aware of her son’s righteous anger towards sinners. The damned plunge into the Styx, guided by Charon, while the elect ascend to heaven.
The painting reflects a pessimistic tone, with little joy. Christ’s terribilità is evident, and his figure appears almost pagan. The nudity in the painting initially caused controversy, leading Pope Paul IV to order it covered.
The composition is grand and theatrical. The flood of humanity falls into hell in a circular motion, starting from the left with the angels’ trumpets, rising towards Christ at the top, and then descending to the right with the condemned. Charon pushes them into his boat with his oar.
Michelangelo’s works showcase his signature terribilità, particularly visible in the figure of Christ. The large-scale nudes reveal his preference for the Herculean canon, characterized by highly developed musculature.