A Field Note from the Sistine Chapel

Many people know of Michelangelo and his painting of the Sistine Chapel. But do you know the story behind this profound piece of artwork? Normally, art history is not my cup of tea, but this story is very interesting.

Michelangelo was invited to Rome in 1505 by Pope Julius II to complete a few pieces of artwork; none of them were paintings, mind you. You see, Michelangelo was not a painter; he considered himself "more of a sculptor...;" hence a little statue known as "DAVID."

Pope Julius II attempted to commission Michelangelo to paint the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel several times, but Michelangelo declined. He declined for a couple of reasons: first, Michelangelo considered himself "more of a sculptor than a painter," and second, during the Renaissance, it was considered disrespectful to ask an artist to paint a ceiling. It is rumored that Michelangelo also declined because he thought that Raphael and Bramante had conspired against him, convincing Julius II to commission him to work with an unfamiliar medium. However, no credible evidence supports this theory.

Finally, Michelangelo agreed to paint the Sistine Chapel Ceiling. In case you are not aware, the Sistine Chapel ceiling was Michelangelo's first painting.

Michelangelo built his "flying scaffolding" and went to work on what has become one of the most recognized paintings of all time.

Between 1508 and 1512, he created one of the most elaborate and breathtaking paintings in the history of the Renaissance. When I say elaborate, I mean that it consists of over 300 separate characters.

The Content of the ceiling includes:

1. The Separation of Light and Darkness
2. The Creation of the Sun, Moon, and Earth
3. The Separation of Land and Water
4. The Creation of Adam
5. The Creation of Eve
6. The Temptation and Expulsion
   7 )The Sacrifice of Noah
7. The Great Flood
   9)The Drunkenness of Noah

I hope that you enjoyed the history behind this phenomenal artwork. If you haven't seen it, it is hard to conceptualize the magnitude of this piece.