How to Understand Michelangelo's Creation of Adam

What is Michelangelo's Creation of Adam?Michelangelo's “Creation of Adam” is a Renaissance painting depicting an episode in the Book of Genesis. It involves God's creation of the first human being, Adam. Located in Vatican City, the fresco is situated on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel and was believed to be created sometime between 1508 and 1512. To better understand Michelangelo's Creation of Adam, there are some things to consider.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• Internet Access
• Library Card
• Pen, pencil and paper

Better Understand Michelangelo's "Creation of Adam"

1. Study art components. There are generally three components in a work of art: subject, form and content. Know what these mean before trying to understand Michelangelo's Creation of Adam.
2. Know composition. In art, the way elements are placed or arranged in a painting is relevant. Michelangelo was an innovator in this respect. Understand the flesh. Not since Hellenistic Greece, had the human body been viewed with such detail and breath. Michelangelo's representation of Adam as muscular and vital, almost equivalent to God, represents the passage of divinity from God to people. Michelangelo diverges from the actual biblical depiction which describes Adam being configured from dust.
3. Visualize art elements. Again, there are many things to consider when understanding truly relevant art work like Michelangelo's Creation of Adam. Learn art elements such as texture, color, line, shape, form and shape.
4. Learn historical context. The Renaissance was a period of great change. It was a period of integration between ancient and new. Artists borrowed or built on ancient Greek ideals of symmetry and anatomical form. The Renaissance is often referred to as a period of artistic “rebirth.” Study Italian Mannerism to get a good understanding about how Michelangelo diverges.

Tips & Warnings

• Talk with a high school teacher, community college or university professor. Instructors often have a lot to say about their respective fields.
• Study more than one source of information. Even experts may disagree about what information is "true" or not.