An Analysis of Michelangelo's Creation of Adam
RESEARCH PROJECT
This paper focuses on analysis and critical thinking. Don't include a lot of general information.
1) Select a Renaissance artwork of your choice.
2) Introduce the work: title, medium, date, artist, patron and original location (if known).
3) Complete a formal analysis of your artwork, focusing on what is formally and stylistically distinctive about the work (color, line, foreshortening, linear perspective, aerial perspective, modeling etc.). Do not simply regurgitate information you find elsewhere. You are expected to demonstrate your own close looking and engagement with the work; this is an opportunity to develop your own original insights. Think hard about what makes this work look unique and be sure to use the correct technical terminology to analyze how the artist creates particular effects. (Be professional!)
4) Locate and analyze two scholarly sources on your artwork. One may be the textbook if the information is substantive, the other should be a scholarly article. Search the J-Stor on-line library database for articles that situate your artwork in historical context (religious, sociopolitical etc.) and choose one or two you find both clear and interesting. As in your previous assignments, don’t merely summarize. Be critical, and assess what this scholarship does, or does not, contribute to our understanding of the art work. Try outlining your main points (the topic sentence of each paragraph) to be sure your argument moves in a clear, logical sequence. Also, the assignment required a critique--an evaluation of the strengths and weaknesses of an argument--not just a positive summary.
5) Include a substantive concluding statement to tie these elements together. In your view, what, in the end, makes this art work formally and historically interesting and important?
**For the research paper, be sure to include complete citations, an image with caption, and a bibliography. The minimum page count refers to text only. Please note this option is required for declared majors.
FINAL RESEARCH PROJECT
This paper focuses on analysis and critical thinking. Don't include a lot of general information.
1) Select a Renaissance artwork of your choice.
2) Introduce the work: title, medium, date, artist, patron and original location (if known).
3) Complete a formal analysis of your artwork, focusing on what is formally and stylistically distinctive about the work (color, line, foreshortening, linear perspective, aerial perspective, modeling etc.). Do not simply regurgitate information you find elsewhere. You are expected to demonstrate your own close looking and engagement with the work; this is an opportunity to develop your own original insights. Think hard about what makes this work look unique and be sure to use the correct technical terminology to analyze how the artist creates particular effects. (Be professional!)
4) Locate and analyze two scholarly sources on your artwork. One may be the textbook if the information is substantive, the other should be a scholarly article. Search the J-Stor on-line library database for articles that situate your artwork in historical context (religious, sociopolitical etc.) and choose one or two you find both clear and interesting. As in your previous assignments, don’t merely summarize. Be critical, and assess what this scholarship does, or does not, contribute to our understanding of the art work. Try outlining your main points (the topic sentence of each paragraph) to be sure your argument moves in a clear, logical sequence. Also, the assignment required a critique--an evaluation of the strengths and weaknesses of an argument--not just a positive summary. Be critical. Do not provide a simple summary alone.
5) Include a substantive concluding statement to tie these elements together. In your view, what, in the end, makes this art work formally and historically interesting and important?
**For the research paper, be sure to include complete citations, an image with caption, and a bibliography. The minimum page count refers to text only. Please note this option is required for declared majors.
An Analysis of Michelangelo's Creation of Adam
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An Analysis of Michelangelo's Creation of Adam
Michelangelo is known as one of the greatest artists. One of his famous works of art is the Creation of Adam that is found on the Sistine Chapel ceiling (Afshar & Afshar, 2015). The art shows how the creator of the universe, God, breathes life into the first man he created. There are different explanations and comments from people about the art. For instance, some believe that the touch of God's finger breathes life into Adam. On the other hand, others believe that the touch did not breathe life. Instead, it breathed intellect into Adam, and while some groups believe that the touch had a spiritual impact on Adam. There are also different analyses from several scholars about the different parts of the painting. Every professional shows their view on the piece of art. In this paper, I will analyze Michelangelo's Creation of Adam by figuring out how religious convictions fasten theological reflection. Reflection on religious work plays a vital role in the comprehension of the Christian faith in God. This is made possible by the engagement of work of art within both aesthetic and theological frameworks. In addition, the analysis will augment understanding and appreciation of the role of art in theology as well as the wider aspect of learning and knowledge sharing in both art and religion. Focusing on Michelangelo's piece of artwork shows how to work sprout from extensive religious convictions.
Initially, the art, together with other few arts were limited to the Twelve Apostles. However, as Michelangelo painted many figures from the book of Genesis and other Old Testament stores, he expanded the whole concept of how to work. It took him four years to fill the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel with decorations (Afshar & Afshar, 2015). Most of the work was done in hostile conditions on the 60-foot high scaffold. What most people do not know about the artist is that he was primarily a sculptor with little knowledge of tempera painting on panels. However, he had limited experience in painting using true fresco. Despite his challenges in painting, his works on the Sistine ceiling are considered as the Genesis Fresco, which homes the Creation of Adam. The art is regarded as Renaissance art and one of the best and fines Renaissance paintings of the 16th century.
Painting Contrast
The artist uses different colours in his painting. He mixes his colours with black and white to improve the contrast range for the colours he uses in the art. This technique made the lighter parts of the painting to be almost white and de-saturated. When compared to the Doni Holy painting, the Creation of Adam looks faded. The artist uses a wide range of luminance to create a vivid level of shading. Over the years, the artist has been thrilling withdrawing, and this made him useless colour in his art.
The debate about Michelangelo's use of colour has been extreme. For instance, his colour choice was criticized by Venetians in the 16th century for being unsuitable. Critics compared the lighting conditions of the art, both then and now, which helped them argue their criticism. When adding colour, the artist used the Buon fresco technique, which involves painting faster on wet plaster before it starts to dry.
The hue modeling colour used by Michelangelo is light yellow. The colour was used on the whole body of Adam, the angels, and God's body. The artist selected white colour for God's cloak and red for a brain that surrounds God, Mary, and the angels.
Iconic Image
When focusing on the chronological order of the Genesis fresco, the creation of Adam is the fourth in the order. However, it was among the last panels to be finished (Barolsky, 2013). On the ceilings, one can see the popular religious paintings that are located on the large field of the section of the sixth bay, sandwiched between the triangular spandrels. The painting shows the Book of Genesis on how God breathed life into Adam. On the left-hand side of the fresco, we can see Adam resting on his back with one arm on the ground, and the other stretched out. On the opposite side of the fresco, God is surrounded by a number of figures, and he appears to be floating on the ground against a backdrop of a red robe. In addition, he stretched his hand towards that of outstretched Adam's hand. And their fingers can be seen to almost touch. The artist used vibrant colours in the artwork. Also, in the background, Michelangelo shows how his figured idealized muscular forms of the human body (Barolsky, 2013). The image shows the spark of life being transferred from the outstretched fingertip of the creator to Adam. The painting has become one of the greatest images of Christian art and a modern graphic that shows the transfer of both spiritual and physical energy.
Spiritual Interpretation of the Creation of Adam
When looking at the image, it is easy to see how spiritual it is as it represents the time when God gave Adam life, as illustrated in the Book of Genesis. One of the questions most Christians ask is how they should make of the techniques used by Michelangelo in displaying the two figures shown in the art. In addition, it can be confusing interpreting the image since while some see that God and Adam are reaching towards each other, others see that they are letting go of one another. When we interpret the image as if both God and Adam are reaching towards one another, then the art could represent the mutual desire of God in helping humanity. On the other hand, if they are letting go of one another, the artist could be showing humanity's separation from God.
Also, when we pay attention to Adam, we can see that he looks relaxed the way he lies on the ground. The artist has painted Adam this way to show that God has not given him life yet. Unlike Adam's lazy posture, God looks energetic. After analyzing God and Adam individually, it is best to take a look at the figure surrounding God. I can presume that the figures were designed to be angels, or they represent biblical characters. On God's left, we can see a woman and a child. They seem to be of special interest since God's left-hand wraps around the woman and touches the child. I feel like the woman might be Eve, who waits for her turn to be taken to earth to unite with Adam. Also, the woman on the art can be Virgin Mary, with her son Jesus, who is referred to as the second Adam in the bi...