 That Sistine chapel has been made famous
by Michelangelo's ceilings would be an understatement. The Sistine
Chapel is his own handiwork. And he has infused it with his own
special genius and how! Using his remarkable skills, he has brought
the Bible to life-painting learning stories and the central events
to allow even a common man to experience the essence of the
Biblical teachings. The rendition has been perfect - each character
is taken from daily life. Yet, these are transfused with all
elements of the ethereal. God is light, imagination, illumination
and everyone gets his due during the last judgment according to his
own conduct. If the Genesis shows the fall of man, the New
Testament brings the great redeemer Jesus who shows the way-through
love
HISTORY:
The Sistine Chapel derives its name from Pope Sixtus della Rover
who restored the old Capella magna. He employed a team of artists
including Pietro Perugino, Sandro Botticelli, Domenico Ghirlandaio
and Cosimo Rosselli to finish the work by 1482. Upon finding it
inadequate and perhaps influenced by the winds of renaissance, the
Pope called upon Michelangelo to paint the ceiling that called for
urgent renovation. A long crack had appeared due to the static and
had been temporally fixed by Bramante by tying some rods. But the
old ceiling was irreparably damaged. Michelangelo took charge only
when given the complete power of conception and execution.
THE PAINTINGS:
Michelangelo placed nine Central stories illustrating episodes
of the Genesis within a powerful painted architecture, with at
their sides Michelangelo's vision was an illustration of nine
central stories of the Bible -graphically portraying the pathos and
the conditions that led to the teachings of Genesis. At the side s
were figures of Nudes, holding medallions with texts taken from the
Book of Kings. The twelve prophets and sibyls are seated on
grandiose throne at the base of the architectural structural. They
are counterpoised by Christ's forefathers, portrayed in the Webs
and in the Lunettes. The miraculous salvation of people of Israel
is depicted in the four corners of the pendentives.
THE GENESIS:
The nine central panels illuminate the story of Genesis- from
the creation of man to his fall, from the flood to his rebirth with
the family of Noah. The nine stories are divided into groups of
three, depicting the origins of the universe, man and the evil.
"The central part of the ceiling shows nine stories of the Genesis,
divided into groups of three, relative to the origin of the
universe, of man and of evil. The first three episodes (Separation
of Light from Darkness: Genesis 1:1-5; Creation of the sun, moon
and planets: Genesis 1:11-19; Separation of Land from Sea: Genesis
1,9-10) dominated by the figure of God, Creator of the Universe,
are followed by those of the Creation of Adam (Genesis 1:26-27) and
of Eve (Genesis 2:18-25), with the figures of man and woman in
their nakedness, the symbol of innocence (Genesis 2:25) which will
be lost with Original Sin (Genesis 3:1-13), shown in the next panel
together with the resulting Banishment from the Garden of Eden
(Genesis 3:22-24). The last three frescoes (The Sacrifice of Noah:
Genesis 8:15-20, The Flood: Genesis 6:5-8,20, The Drunkenness of
Noah: Genesis 9:20-27) show the fall of mankind and its rebirth
with Noah, chosen by God as the only man to be saved for
repopulating the earth after the Creator had decided to destroy
every living creature in it because of human evil."
The first three episodes show Separation of light from darkness,
creation of the sun, moon and the planets, separation of land from
the sea dominated by the figure of God, Creator of Universe, are
followed by those of the creation of Adam and of Eve with the
figures of man and woman in their nakedness, the symbol of
innocence which will be lost with original sin, shown in the next
panel together with the resulting banishment from the garden of
Eden.
The water of the deluge is used symbolically as it takes the
form of water of baptism that creates a new mankind, eventually to
be saved by Christ. The four corners pendentives depict the
miraculous salvation of Israel.
THE NEW TESTAMENT:
Upon been given the task of altering the decoration of Sistine
chapel, Michelangelo decided to paint the Last Judgment series on
the outer wall. He began by showing the glorious return of Christ
according to New Testament. The Christ is the redeemer, tending to
his flock, giving succor -miraculously healing the sick by his most
potent weapon-love. For unlike the Old Testament, revenge and honor
is forgotten. In their place, the true redeemer triumphs - that
empathizes, feels and accepts. He finally heals the suffering of
the multitudes of Israelites. Michelangelo tried to give form to
the unimaginable and ineffable majesty of gods. With Genesis as his
guide, he not only made the Sistine chapel a showcase for his
unparallel talents, but more importantly, the shrine of the
theology for the entire human kind.
The conclave for the election of the supreme pontiff is always
held in the Sistine chapel. And with good reason. As the late Pope
John Paul said " The Sistine chapel is the place that, for each
Pope holds the memory of a special day in his life….
Precisely here, in this sacred space, the cardinals gather,
awaiting the manifestation of the will of Christ with regard of the
successor of St Peter… Thus the Sistine Chapel became once
again before the whole Catholic community the place of action of
the Holy Spirit that nominates the Bishops in the Church, and
nominates especially he who must be the bishop of Rome and the
Successor of Peter". |
