The Art from the Famous

Michelangelo: High
Renaissance
Savannah Threet
IHU-101
5/23/2016

Michelangelos
David

Michelangelo created the great masterpiece that is called David between the years of 1501 and
1504. He used a block of Carrera marble for his statues material. The statue stands 13 feet tall making
it even more awe-inspiring. The height of this statue is practically the size of a full grown female giraffe
to be put into perspective.

David is standing in contrapposto. Contrapposto is when the weight is balanced on mainly one hip
and leg with the shoulders relaxed and slanting downward. This was a popular stance for figure statues
because it makes the figure appear more naturalistic and real.

From the way David is standing makes you feel like he is about to go to battle against Goliath. His
eyes are focused in one direction and ready for a fight.

The head of David

We can clearly see all of the detail that Michelangelo put into this statue. There
was great care taken in making the figure look expressive as well as realistic.
Part of the reason his statue was so large was because he made David to be as
a warning to Italian cities that Florence wasnt a city to be trifled with during the
regional wars.

Michelangelo didnt hold back at all when it came to sculpting in the details. He
made all of the lines strong, and this created a shadow effect like shading make
it more realistic.

I think that David is beautiful and beyond well sculpted. I hope that one day I
can see the statue in real life, because I know I wouldnt be able to take my eyes
off of him.

Moses
Pope Julius II commissioned Michelangelo in the
year 1505 to create a tomb for the pope. The
original plan for this tomb was for it to be two
stories tall and have more than 20 life sized
sculptures decorating the tomb. However, Pope
Julius II asked Michelangelo to pause his work on
the tomb to start working on the Sistine chapel.
The tomb wasnt completed until 1545. There
were problems with Julius IIs heirs, but the tomb
was eventually finished just on a lower scale.
The tombs height and detail is still highly
overwhelming in my opinion.
Mosess height is 8 feet tall and that is while he
is sitting! Michelangelo added in sufficient detail
to all aspects and figures of the tomb and not
just Moses. Moses is the largest figure, though,
which makes us be more drawn in by him.

Close up of
Moses

Moses was so well sculpted that we can feel as though he is interacting with us.
His body positioning appears to be him getting ready to stand up and share a
strong opinion towards someone. We can see from one of his legs being bent
back that he is about to rise. He also holds the Ten Commandments in his hand
as if he is about to scold someone who has been breaking them.

There is some debate on why Moses has horns. Its thought that he has horns
because in the Vulgate version of the Bible, Jerome mistranslated cornuta
which means horned in Latin. Now, they think it could mean something shiny or
perhaps a halo.
He is portrayed as a very strong, muscular, and intense person. His head is very
large, which could also be because Moses had such a high level of knowledge
also.

The Sistine
Chapel

Michelangelo started his work on the Sistine chapel in the year 1508 and did not
complete his work there until the year 1512. Though, he did return later to paint
the Last Judgement Wall.

Michelangelo was not pleased to be commissioned for this task, because

sculpting was his main artistic profession. He did however, accept the task and
challenge.

Michelangelo painted this masterpiece of a chapel standing up on scaffolding

that he had made himself. The process of painting the ceiling was described as
torture by Michelangelo. Can you imagine standing up, holding your neck back
and painting for hours on end?

The Creation of Adam

The Creation of Adam is one of the more popular frescos painted on the ceiling
of the Sistine Chapel. Michelangelo managed to cover practically the whole
chapels structure with his incredible paintings.

A fresco is a painting that is made by using pigments dissolved in lime water that
is applied to wet plaster as it dries.

Michelangelo accomplished the sense of feeling and emotion in his frescos. You
can see the longing in the eyes of God and Adam. The softness of the figures
makes it look and feel very naturalistic. Michelangelo was more than just a
sculptor, he was also a great colorist and painter.

The Ceiling of the

Sistine Chapel

The panels of the ceiling were completed by Michelangelo, and it consists of

scenes from the Creation, Book of Genesis, and Noah.

The columns that frame the frescos on the ceiling appear to be real columns, but
they are merely painted on. Michelangelo was so detailed that all of the scenes
in this chapel look as though they are three-dimensional and real.

The Last
Judgement Wall

The wall behind the alter was completed long after that of the ceiling of the
chapel. Michelangelo started this wall fresco in the year 1536 and completed it
in 1541.
This fresco is considered to be a Last Judgement scene. Michelangelo filled the
wall so brilliantly, leaving the viewer just enough blank space. There are so
many details in this chapel that you could find something new every time you
view it.

The Fresco consists of over 300 muscular figures. This fresco is also different
from the other walls and ceiling because there is not a painted border.

Piet

Michelangelo was commissioned by a French Cardinal to sculpt Piet. Sculpting

Piet took him from 1498 to 1500 to complete. The sculpture depicts the Virgin
Mary mourning and holding her sons dead body. Michelangelo managed to,
once again, make marble appear as if it were real flesh.

Michelangelo managed to make the folds of Marys robes and Jesuss loincloth
look effortlessly easy. The folds are detailed and placed perfectly making it even
easier for us to enjoy observing this sculpture and his talent.

Piet Details

Piet is the only sculpture that Michelangelo ever signed, which is definitely an
interesting fact to know.

You can feel the sadness that comes from Mary losing her son, and you see it in
her face as well. Michelangelo portrayed this sadness so well. He was always
one to know exactly how to perfectly portray every emotion.

Mary was portrayed a simple woman in this statue, because thats exactly what
she was. But in her simplicity there is a different kind of beauty- a real, true
beauty.

Conclusion

Just from observing a few of Michelangelos brilliant masterpieces, we can feel inspired
in many different ways. I feel inspired to accept any challenges that come my way in
life, and also to continue to pursue my artistic ideas no matter what. I will never
become someone as notable as Michelangelo, but you can always push yourself to
become the best that you can. He created so many powerful works of art, whether it is
his paintings or many sculptures. He was truly a huge part of the High Renaissance
and his works of art will always be remembered and adored.

References

4. Michelangelo, Ceiling of the Sistine Chapel

(including the Creation of Adam). (n.d.). Retrieved
May 23, 2016, from
https://www.khanacademy.org/humanities/renaissanc
e-reformation/high-ren-florencerome/michelangelo/v/michelangelo-ceiling-of-thesistine-chapel-1508-12

1. Michelangelo, David. (n.d.). Retrieved May 23, 2016, from

https://www.khanacademy.org/humanities/renaissance-reformation/high-renflorence-rome/michelangelo/v/michelangelo-david-marble-1501-04-galleria-dellaccademia-florence

2. Michelangelo, Moses. (n.d.). Retrieved May 23, 2016, from

http://www.khanacademy.org/humanities/renaissance-reformation/high-renflorence-rome/michelangelo/v/michelangelo-moses-ca-1513-15

3. 23 Interesting Facts about the Sistine Chapel. (n.d.). Retrieved May 23, 2016,
from http://www.incredibleart.org/links/sistine-chapel.html#sthash.djI8q2f3.dpuf

5. Michelangelo, Piet. (n.d.). Retrieved May 23,

2016, from
https://www.khanacademy.org/humanities/renaissanc
e-reformation/high-ren-florencerome/michelangelo/v/michelangelo-piet-1498-1500
6. Martin, F. D., & Jacobs, L. A. (2015). The
Humanities Through the Arts (Ninth ed.). New York,,
NY: McGraw-Hill Education.