The Creation of Adam, an Inspiration through the Ages Throughout the entire era of the Renaissance, one particular work of art is arguably the most well-known and profound; this is the Sistine Chapel ceiling. Painted by Michelangelo between 1508 and 1512, and encompassing many individual works of art into a stunning composition; the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel is an immaculate display of Michelangelo’s skill and dedication to his craft. Among the individual biblical scenes depicted along the center of the ceiling is the famous The Creation of Adam, in which Adam and God are shown reaching toward one another from opposite sides of the piece. This piece is my favorite of the central scenes because of its simplicity and profoundness. In The Creation of Adam, Michelangelo’s focus was primarily on the foreground. This is evident due to the fact that the background is completely devoid of any subject matter aside from the single nondescript patch of earth upon which Adam is situated, and the red silk that surrounds God and the figures that accompany him. I find this lack of …show more content…
This one detail has sparked much discussion over the centuries, and continues to this day. I find this detail intriguing because of how prominent it is in the message and theme of the piece itself; it shows the passion of God, Adam’s need for his influence, and the mirroring position of the hands and the space between them makes one acknowledge that though God created Adam in his image, he (God) is still a higher power; and to attain his influence one must reach out to him. The space between the subject’s hands also gives a feeling of suspense at the decision Adam appears to be making: will he reach out to God? Will his weary hand fall away? It seems as though these questions will never be answered, and even so this particular detail has maintained the rapt attention of many a scholar for