Michelangelo Di Lodovico Buonarroti

For week 7, I will be explaining how the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel (figure 1) located in Vatican City in Rome, Italy fits in with my theme of beauty that I chose for my final paper. Italian artist, Michelangelo di Lodovico Buonarroti Simoni, known simply as Michelangelo, was commissioned by Pope Julius II in 1508 to repaint the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel. At first, Michelangelo refused saying he was a sculptor and had no experience as a fresco painter. However, he quickly changed his mind and accepted the commission and then spent the next four years painting his most famous masterpiece. The Sistine Chapel’s center panel shows a series of nine stories from the Book of Genesis. Since Michelangelo was by trade, a sculptor, he used this knowledge when painting the frescos and had to first apply plaster to the ceiling before he was able to paint. Originally, the ceiling was painted blue with …show more content…
“Man was created in the image and likeness of God.” (Genesis 1:26) This particular portion of the Sistine Chapel is so well-known that it can be identified by the hands alone. Lastly, after analysis, scientists and mathematicians believe that Michelangelo created this in relationship to the Golden Ratio or Divine Proportions. This is based on the 21st letter of the Greek alphabet – Phi. Phi is 1.618 and this represents balance and harmony. Many believe that if a painting or sculpture is created according to Phi, it will be more beautiful to look at since everything is in correct proportions.
. Although beauty can be argued as subjective to the viewer, there is no disputing that the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel is a one of a kind masterpiece. Many works of art today are based on his techniques. Whether or not it was a painting or sculpture, Michelangelo was truly a master at his craft and was able to create the most beautiful works of all