Creation of Adam

Mindmaps Developments:

Part I: DESCRIPTION

Painting of “Creation of Adam” is painted by Michelangelo di Lodovico Buonarroti Simoni. It is an art from Italian Renaissance, executed on circa 1511, Sistine Chapel, at The Vatican, Rome. It is painted by fresco. The size is 480 x 230 cm.

The subject matters in the “Creation of Adam” are Adam, God, viewers and mantle. For Adam, he is lying down on the left bottom of the painting. He show unmoving pose in the painting, and his eyes look at God from sideview. His left leg was bending, right leg free lying down, let his right hand press on the floor and he has a wide elegant contours. Besides that, he has a muscular body which has rippling muscles and his body until torso was face infront. He  is stretched out his left hand towards God and meet the fingertips of God which show a broad motion.

God is on the top right corner in the painting. He is surrounded and supported by the angels in flight. He is wrapped in a seal and waver in the air. His body lean towards Adam and look at Adam via sideview. Besides, his left arm stretched wide and his fingertips towards Adam. Moreover, his right arm reaches out around a female figure until touches a child’s shoulder. His hip and legs are at the bottom of spinal cord.

The viewers are move from entrance to altar of the mantle and they are wrapped in a seal. They move nearer to God which union with God. An angel below the God has bifid foot and his other leg is flexed at the knee. The mantle in the painting is in red colour which is billowing clock-like form. It also have a green ribbon at the bottom of it.

One of the art elements in this painting is value which is in 3D. The painting can be separated by low key and high key tone. Besides, God and Adam in this painting have a muscular form. For lines, the diagonal line is show from Adam towards God whereas organic lines are show on the earth, green ribbon, body, hair and beard. There are organic shape which is elipse or incomplete oval shape of the mantle whereas the irregular shape falls on the earth. For the colour, it can be determined by cool colour which are green (15%), grey (5%), and blue (15%). It also can determined by warm colour which are brown (55%) and red (10%). So, the painting is more on warm colour. The texture in the painting can be defined as implied texture. It is stimulated which means looks real, such as figure of Adam, God and angels. 

Part II: ANALYSIS

The technique used in “Creation of Adam” is fresco which is use plaster. The artist must use high speed, very rapid and precise techniques of painting to let the plaster dries very quickly. The pigments are mixed with wet plaster, then bind the pigment on the walls or ceiling.

The space in this painting is deep. It also can be defined in atmospheric perspective. This painting can be separated by foreground (Adam and God), middle ground (angels) and background which are sky and earth. The ratio of the positive and negative in the painting was in well balanced. It also have similar with the structure of architecture which is intricate pseudo.

For the lines in the painting, it show the implied diagonal lines on God’s body and in connection between God’s eyes and Adam’s eyes. The psychic line can be seen on Adam’s eye look towards God’s eyes and  Adam’s fingertips meet with God’s fingertips.

In principle of organisation, linking hand and the flaring ribbon show movement in the painting. The position of angels and the green ribbon flaring show the rhythm. The balance is asymmetrically balance. God surrounded by angels and God and angels wrapped in a mantle show unity. Besides, the scale which have contrast which can differentiated by big scale (God and Adam) and small scale (female figure and angels). The child show prominent position in proportion. The dominance have isolated (Adam and God) and subordinate (angels).

The visual impacts in the painting are the loving between God and Adam, God is powerful and angels like to stick with God.

For the contrast, the painting have complementary colour and harmony colour. The subjective view is God is caring and loving. 

 Part III: JUDGEMENT

 The diagonal composition which is parallel positions of God and Adam is in formalistic. The implied lines of the composition are in an active and dynamic power of Creator. Besides that, the perfect physical form of Adam which is beauty of human form and muscular body of Adam and God. It also can be defined as courage and dominance.

 For the emotionalism, the land can be defined as the feeling of sin and dimness. There is a symbol of joy for humans. The artist emphasize the finger about to touch which have slight space between Adam and God’s fingertips because of the creation is not yet complete. It also can be symbolizing energetic and transmit God’s fingertips. The dynamic can be seen by flying God. The angel on the left bottom of God looks sad. Furthermore, God points his index finger towards a naked Adam which symbolizing innocence.

 The “Creation of Adam” is functional as ceiling painting. It is painted at Sistine Chapel, Vatican City, Italy.

 For imitative part, the human intellect, Adam, similar poses with God. God’s right leg and Adam’s right leg positions are almost identical. It reflects the Genesis 1:27, “God created man in his own image”. The God and angels are spirit. God’s left arm wrapped around a female form. It can believes that incompletely formed Eve is waiting in Heaven to be given a human shape. The “Creation of Adam” is from old testament, bible. “And The Lord God formed man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and main became a living being” in creation story of Genesis 2:7. The artist imitative the story in Bible because of God breathes life into Adam, the first man. Besides that, Michelangelo has the idea of creation and it is among the last to be completed. Furthermore, structural skeleton reveals the dynamic theme of the story.

               

Part IV: AUDIENCE

The “Creation of Adam” is commissioned made by Pope Sixtus. Besides that, it is summoned by Pope Julius II (Giulio II and “papa terrible”). He determined that Rome should be rebuilt to its former glory. He ask Michelangelo to do the painting for papal conclaves and important services. It is painted by Michelangelo, because he wanted to served Pope’s need for grandeur.

It can be inspired because of optimistic of lots of light and cheery aspect. Moreover, this painting appreciated by student, architect, art appreciation editor, religious and others. The religious of Christians and the reader of the book of Genesis appreciate this painting.This painting was left out by other religious, such as Buddhist and Hindus.