"THE CREATION OF ADAM" : AN ART RESPONSE

     Michelango Buonarrogti lived from 1475 to 1564 AD and became one of the most famous Italian Renaissance artists. Although he concidered himself more of a sculpture than a paintor, he painted one of the most inspiring pieces in the intire art world. From 1508-1512 he painted the cieling of the Sistine Chapel with a series of frescoes that portrayed several biblical stories. The most famous image from the ceiling is THE CREATION OF ADAM which despicts god giving life to the first human Adam.The dimension of the painting is 2.8m x 5.7 m.

     The composition stretches over 500 square metres of ceiling and contains over 300 figures. At its centre are nine episodes from the Book of Genesis, divided into three groups God's Creation of the Earth, God's Creation of Humankind and their fall from God's grace; and lastly, the state of Humanity. Among the most famous paintings on the ceiling are The Creation of Adam, Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden, the Deluge, the Prophet Jeremiah and the Cumaean Sibyl. 

     The Renaissance artist Michelangelo Buonarroti painted magnificent painting in the ceiling of the Vaticans's Sistine Chapel that took him four years to complete the painting, Comissioned by pope Julius II, Michelangelo performed his work himself without assistant. In the fresco traditionally called the Creation of Adam, but which might be more appy titled the Endowment of Adam. Obviously, this image is spiritual in nature because it represents the moment when God gives life to Adam in the Book of Genesis. But what are we supposed to make of the way Michelangelo displays each of these figures? Are God and Adam reaching towards one another, or are they letting go of one another? If they're reaching towards one another, then the image could represent the mutual desire of God and humanity for one another. IfThe Creation of Adam fresco shows Adam and God reaching toward one another, arms outstretched, fingers almost touching.

One can imagine the spark of life jumping from God to Adam across that synapse between their fingertips. However, Adam is already alive, his eyes are open, and he is completely formed; but it is the intent of the picture that Adam is to “receive” something from God. I believe there is a third “main character” in the fresco that has not previously been recognized. they're letting go of one another, Michelangelo could be asserting humanity's independence or separation from God. 

     

     This is to remind men that they are created in the likeness and image of God (Gen 1:26, NIV). The painting also creates suspense when the fingers of God and man are not in contact although they are close to each other. This implies that God who is the giver of life is reaching out to man and man is receiving in return. 

     https://www.learner.org/series/art-through-time-a-global-view/the-body/the-creation-of-adam/ https://www.wga.hu/html_m/m/michelan/3sistina/1genesis/6adam/06_3ce6.htm http://www.michelangelo.net/creation-of-adam/