Lecture on Michelangelo's Artworks

The Pietà

• Location: St. Peter's Basilica, Vatican City
• Creation Date: 1499
• Description:
  • Depicts Virgin Mary holding the lifeless body of Jesus.
  • Michelangelo studied human anatomy meticulously.
  • Notable for turning marble into realistic representations of fabric and skin.
  • Detailed sculpting, e.g., skin pushed up under Jesus' armpit.
• Historical Context:
  • Created during a time of celebrations at the end of the 15th century.
  • Artists worked live on their pieces in St. Peter's Basilica.
• Controversies:
  • Michelangelo signed the piece by carving his name across Virgin Mary's chest.
  • Depicted Virgin Mary as the same age as Jesus, causing backlash.
  • The sculpture faced multiple attacks and is now behind bulletproof glass.

The Sistine Chapel Ceiling

• Location: Vatican City (an independent country within Rome)
• Construction Timeline: 1473-1480
• Dimensions: 70 feet high, 44 feet wide, and 128 feet long.
• Commission:
  • Initially unwanted task due to difficulty.
  • Raphael recommended Michelangelo, potentially to sideline him.
  • Michelangelo was initially reluctant but was coerced by the Pope.
• Completion: Finished in four years.
• Painting Technique: Fresco (pigment on wet plaster)
• Assistance: Likely started with assistants but completed mostly alone.
• Michelangelo's Demeanor: Known for extreme focus and poor hygiene during projects.
• Artistic Approach:
  • Broke the ceiling into sections to manage the vast space.
  • Used trompe l'oeil technique to create illusionistic architecture.

Content of the Ceiling

• Combination of Themes: Christian theology and Greek mythology.
• Old Testament Stories: Creation, Garden of Eden, etc.
• Prophetic Figures: Sibyls (prophetic women from classical period)
• Ignudi: Idealized nude figures, inspired by classical art.

The Creation of Adam

• Description: Depicts God giving life to Adam by touching fingers.
• Symbolism: Man as a combination of body and soul.
• Artistic Elements: Use of muscular forms, emphasis on the human body's power.
• Michelangelo's Preference: Known preference for male forms due to his personal orientation.

Notable Characteristics of Michelangelo

• Attention to Detail: Extensive study of human anatomy.
• Work Ethic: Intense focus, often at the expense of personal care.
• Artistic Style: Realism, muscular forms, trompe l'oeil.
• Personal Life: Known homosexual, influenced his depiction of human forms.