The ceiling of the Sistine Chapel is one of the most famous pieces of work by the artist Michelangelo from 1508 to 1512.
The history of the ceiling goes back to the paintings of Pier Matteo d’Amelia with the starry sky and frescoes that began in 1481.
Later, due to excavations on the north and south for building the Borgia Tower and the new St. Peter’s room, the ceilings developed long cracks in 1504.
Though some repair work happened, the paintings were highly affected, which led Julius II to engage Michelangelo with the decoration.
Michelangelo painted the ceiling, the upper part of the walls, and the lunettes.
Following are the four broad categories into which the Sistine Chapel ceiling has been divided to narrate the stories of Genesis, God, mankind, and evil.
Central Panel
The central nine panels depict episodes from Genesis with nude figures at their sides holding decorations with passages from the Book of Kings.
These nine panels are grouped into three: the origin of the universe, the origin of man and evil.
The panels follow the
- Creation of the sun, moon and plants (Separation of Light from Darkness, Separation of Land from Sea)
- Creation of Adam and Eve (with figures of man and woman in their nakedness, the symbol of innocence lost)
- Original Sin and Banishment from the Garden of Eden
- The Flood (the drunkenness of Noah symbolizing the fall of mankind and Noah’s rebirth for repopulating the earth)
Side Panel
As you notice the next set of paintings towards the wall, the side panel has paintings of 12 prophets and sibyls seated on monumental thrones.
Out of the 12, 10 are alternately placed along the length of the ceiling, and they are
- Prophet Joel
- Delphic Sibyl
- Erythrean Sibyl
- Prophet Isaiah
- Prophet Ezekiel
- Cumaean Sibyl
- Persian Sibyl
- Prophet Daniel
- Prophet Jeremiah
- Libyan Sibyl
The two prophets along the breadth of the ceiling are Prophet Zechariah and Prophet Jonah (above the altar), who have a special position as a symbol of Christ.
These eminent prophets and sibyls are considered to have first sensed the coming of the Redeemer and, therefore, provide evidence of the constant wait for the redemption of mankind.
Spandrels or Curve of the Arch
The frescoes on the eight spandrels depict groups of figures that most likely finish the series of the Ancestors of Christ depicted in the lunettes below.
These are alternately placed and captured inside the triangular shapes.
Some of the popular figures include:
Spandrel of the lunette Jesse, David, and Solomon
Michelangelo painted these spandrels above the lunettes of Jesse, David, and Solomon in just one day.
These depict some typical styles of Michelangelo, such as enigmatic female figures, muscular women, mysterious gazes, etc.
Spandrel of the lunette Josiah, Jechoniah, and Shealtiel
It took two days for Michelangelo to complete these spandrels above the lunette depicting Josiah, Jechoniah and Shealtiel.
It displays a family setup with a certain use of color palettes, recalling St. Paul’s definition of Christ’s ancestors as “pilgrims” and “strangers in the land” on their way to the promised land.
Contents
Pendentive or Four Corners
The four corners of the ceiling illustrate four episodes of the miraculous salvation of the people of Israel.
They are:
- Stories of David and Goliath
- Stories of Judith and Holofernes
- Stories of Brazen Serpent
- Story of the punishment of Haman
These symbolize the Messiah, which speaks to God’s constant presence in the lives of his people and the promise of redemption.
They serve as intersections between the wall and ceiling stories.
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Featured Image: CBC.ca