Hum_100_Module_5
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Southern New Hampshire University *
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Arts Humanities
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Nov 24, 2024
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Harriet Creyer
Module Five: Short Answer
Southern New Hampshire University
HUM 100
Michelangelo: The Creation of Adam
Describe the selected work.
The work I have chosen is the Creation of Adam by Michelangelo. One of the 9 paintings/ frescos on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel, Vatican City, was created between 1508 and 1512. These frescos were commissioned by Pope Julius II. It’s claimed that Michelangelo was inspired to create this masterpiece by the Genesis phrase “God created man in his own image” but drawing two similar bodies, both robust and strong (Lewis, 2019). The creation of
the frescos on the celling was outside the norm for Michelangelo as he was a sculpture not a painter by trade, although he did have knowledge of painting. On the left side is Adam lying on the ground that seems to be waking up, while God on the right side comes from the sky circled by angels. The look of the Creator, represented with a long beard and gray hair is decided while the look of Adam represented with a strong young man, seems of naive amazement. The main detail of the fresco is surely the fingers of God and Adam touching each other. The Creator’s index pointed at man with authoritative doing seems ready to give an impulse to the hand of Adam which instead seems weak as if it were ready to receive energy from the Lord. (
Michelangelo's creation of adam in the sistine chapel
)
Describe the time period the work belongs to.
The Creation of Adam belongs to the ‘High Renaissance period’ which was around for approximately 35 years in Rome from 1490-1527 (The high renaissance). The High Renaissance period is said to have ended with the fall of Rome in 1527. This at a time when the adoption of humanist thinking was dominating the era. This was across all walks of life
from artistes to statesman. Humanist core of study being Greek and Roman arts and Sciences.
(Lewis, 2019)
Determine the culture the work belongs to and describe its value to that culture.
The culture that the work belongs to, would be the Roman Catholic, Christian Church. When Michelangelo painted The Creation of Adam, he wanted to show the ‘divine breath of life…. The gesture represents the creation of man’ (
Michelangelo's creation of adam in the sistine chapel
)
’. The value this masterpiece has is, that it represents Adams connection with God, and we were made in his in his own image. It could also represent the idea that God is with us. Although The Creation of Adam is only a part of this overall work it is often seen as pivotal with in the Christian movement and still a focus of visitors, artist, and scholars today.
Explain how the cultural work helped deal with specific societal issues of the time.
Michelangelo’s work was created at a time when scholars and statesmen as well as artists were adopting humanist ideals (Lewis, 2019)
By applying the lessons learned from the ancients within the context of Christianity, it was believed that the great civilizations of the past could be not merely imitated, but also surpassed. For artists like Michelangelo, this meant modeling Christian subjects on the idealized nudes of classical antiquity. (Lewis, 2019)
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REFERENCES
Encyclopædia Britannica, inc. (n.d.).
The high renaissance
. Encyclopædia Britannica. Retrieved July 30, 2022, from https://www.britannica.com/event/Renaissance/The-
High-Renaissance
Lewis, R. (2019, September 26).
Art: The creation of adam
. Annenberg Learner. Retrieved July 30, 2022, from https://www.learner.org/series/art-through-time-a-global-view/the-
body/the-creation-of-adam/
Michelangelo's creation of adam in the sistine chapel
. Michelangelo's Creation of Adam in the Sistine Chapel. (n.d.). Retrieved July 30, 2022, from https://www.thesistinechapel.org/the-creation-of-adam