Michelangelo the Storyteller?

In the article, Michelangelo’s Crescendo Communicating the Sistine Chapel Ceiling by Peter Gillgren, he asks the question of why Michelangelo’s work did not receive attention from art historians in the past. Gillgren shows that some historians like Hienrich Wölfflin believe that Michelangelo changed his style of painting after seeing what he had done to make the scenes more unified. This led to each scene to have larger figures of human beings. However as Gillgren shows, Michelangelo’s purpose for the figures in the Sistine Chapel starting small and ending big is to show the millions of sinners that come to worship Christ, as they witness God’s work from the beginning.

Michelangelo did a fresco style on the ceiling with cool colors to create a mood of relaxation. The use of blues and greens has a subtle impact as observers walk in the Sistine Chapel. They feel engulf in a serene world of peace which in fact is how people should be when they come into the house of the Lord.

Gillgren supports the idea that Michelangelo had a plan when started painting the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel. The idea of painting the ceiling was brought up in 1506, but Michelangelo did not get the contract till 1508. During that time Michelangelo thought about how he was going to design the ceiling, as reported there is “a sketch for the cartoon-head of Haman,” (Gillgren, 210). One idea that supports Michelangelo’s crescendo in iconology as it relates to theological ideas. Charles de Tolnay states: ‘”the spectator advancing from the main entrance toward the altar experiences from history to history a gradual ascension: freed from his bodily prison he leaves his earthly existence and attains a state of absolute freedom in infinity. The divine origin of the human soul becomes manifest,”’ (Gillgren, 211). So, when a person makes his way to the altar he is reminded how life is created and the awesome power of God.

As people enter the chapel the first scene, they notice is Noah’s sorrow. Michelangelo shows that all people come into the Lord’s house with some sin or pain they are trying to wipe away from their life. Therefore, the scene represents having to face God, which is extremely religious and biblical in context. As worshippers and observers make their way to the altar, the images show less action and take one back to the beginning of time. Once at the altar people witness the painting of the creation of Adam. I believe Michelangelo did this to show that we may all come into the house of the Lord together but in the end we must face our creator (God) alone. The ceiling starts out with several scenes and ends with Adam and God in an intimate relationship. This proves that Michelangelo wanted people to feel inspired by God, as was he, when walking through the Sistine Chapel.

Michelangelo created a masterpiece for all to marvel at. He wanted to create a place where people did not feel intimidated when they came to worship and he accomplished his goal. Michelangelo saw that paintings are another way for people to learn about the great stories in the bible. That is part of the reason why the Sistine Chapel Ceiling is looked at so much, beyond Michelangelo’s creative genius.

Works Cited

Gillgren, Peter. Michelangelo’s Crescendo Communicating the Sistine Chapel Ceiling. http://www.informaworld.com/smpp/content~content=a713788718