DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.51585#0053
MICHAEL ANGELO.
49
In the centre of the ceiling are four large com-
partments and five small ones. In the former are
represented the Creation of the Sun and Moon;
the Creation of Adam, perhaps the most majestic
design that was ever conceived by the genius of
man ; the Fall and the Expulsion from Paradise;
the Deluge. In the five small compartments are
represented the Gathering of the Waters {Gen.
i. 9) ; the Almighty separating Light from Dark-
ness ; the Creation of Eve; the Sacrifice of Noah,
and Noah’s Vineyard: around these, in the curved
part of the ceiling, are the Prophets and the Sibyls
who foretold the birth of Christ. These are among
the most wonderful forms that modern art has
called into life. They are all seated and employed
in contemplating books or antique rolls of manu-
script, with genii in attendance. These mighty
beings sit before us, looking down with solemn
meditative aspects, or upwards with inspired looks
that see into futurity. All their forms are massive
and sublime, all are full of varied and individual
character.
Beneath these again are a series of groups repre-
senting the earthly genealogy of Christ, in which
the figures have a repose, a contemplative grace
and tenderness, which place them among the most
interesting of all the productions of Michael An-
gelo. These and the figure of Eve in the Fall
show how intense was his feeling of beauty, though
49
In the centre of the ceiling are four large com-
partments and five small ones. In the former are
represented the Creation of the Sun and Moon;
the Creation of Adam, perhaps the most majestic
design that was ever conceived by the genius of
man ; the Fall and the Expulsion from Paradise;
the Deluge. In the five small compartments are
represented the Gathering of the Waters {Gen.
i. 9) ; the Almighty separating Light from Dark-
ness ; the Creation of Eve; the Sacrifice of Noah,
and Noah’s Vineyard: around these, in the curved
part of the ceiling, are the Prophets and the Sibyls
who foretold the birth of Christ. These are among
the most wonderful forms that modern art has
called into life. They are all seated and employed
in contemplating books or antique rolls of manu-
script, with genii in attendance. These mighty
beings sit before us, looking down with solemn
meditative aspects, or upwards with inspired looks
that see into futurity. All their forms are massive
and sublime, all are full of varied and individual
character.
Beneath these again are a series of groups repre-
senting the earthly genealogy of Christ, in which
the figures have a repose, a contemplative grace
and tenderness, which place them among the most
interesting of all the productions of Michael An-
gelo. These and the figure of Eve in the Fall
show how intense was his feeling of beauty, though