Renaissance Art: “The Creation Of Adam”

The Renaissance was a period of time of the fervent explosion in European as it rebirth the cultural, artistic, political or even economic factors by following the classical model in the Medieval Times. This caused by during the late Middle Ages, European suffered from both war and plague so “Those who survived wanted to celebrate life and the human spirit.”(Roger) Beck. The Renaissance began in Italy, particularly in the city of Florence as it has a lot of advantages which are thriving cities, a wealthy merchant class, and the classical heritage of Greece. Over time, Renaissance people started to acquire those classical learning by studied ancient Latin manuscripts that had been preserved in monasteries for many years. A cultural movement then appeared and brought a huge influence as it gained innovations in Italy. It called Humanism which means that intellectual movement focused on human potential and achievements. The artists get interested and put it into practice. They then included those classical cultures and humanistic learning in almost every single piece of art. They drew inspiration from the ruins of Rome and get inspired by the look at the classical Greek examples existed. Also, we can see it in individual paintings by the way at that time people will be having portraits to reflect the importance of the individual. In common, all of the artworks reformed from Medieval painting style which used religious subjects to convey a spiritual ideal by using the two-dimensional drawing technique to used realistic copied from the classical model by using the technique of perspective which shows three dimensional on a flat surface. Not only that, artworks that produced were commissioned by the patrons – the financial supporter of the artist who usually is wealthy merchants, church leaders.

During the Renaissance, many features of the medieval persisted and enacted in many areas. However, art is especially desirable as it gained tremendous success. This means artists during that time were also highly esteemed. There is one of the three greatest masters who are very well-known called Michelangelo Buonarroti. He is famous for using a realistic style when depicting the human body. Though Michelangelo considered himself a sculptor first, despite that he also achieved as a painter as well. Notably, it is because of his giant fresco covering the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel in the Vatican City, Italy from 1508 – 1512 which took him about four years to complete. Moreover, the most illustrious section in that artwork is called The Creation of Adam. It located at the panel in the center of the room, next to the Creation of Eve. In fact, the entire scene for this piece of art only took less than three weeks to complete in 1511. The purpose of the painting is to use to glorified biblical creation.

Unexpectedly, the version that Michelangelo created about God giving life to the first man was different to compare with any version that had been made before by according to Genesis 2:7 which states that “then the LORD GOD formed the man of dust from the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living creature.” (The Gideons International). Yet, on the ceiling, naked and muscular Adam was placed to the left-hand side, laying on the ground with one arm reclining while the other brought up and outstretched toward God who shown in the image of an elderly, with a grey beard and wears a light tunic, surrounds with angels. Furthermore, his gesture is in the flight movement toward Adam. In addition, as we take a closer look at the center of the painting, we easily recognize that God’s finger and Adam’s finger is about to touch. This action is meant to portray the first spark of life that God gave to his creation which represents for the start of the human race under the perfecting of God. In contrast, we also can realize that God can not reach out any further because his finger already extends fully. Nonetheless, Adam’s finger is little sluggish as he shrunk it in. Definitely, his finger still can extend a bit more which is enough to let them get in touch. However, at that moment, Adam

Is just a creation from God’s own image, so they are not in the same realm. That’s why Adam looks lifeless and acknowledge. As for God, he is focused and looks very emotion. We can see that he is really passionate to embrace his creation at first glance.

To conclude, in a spiritual context this painting means that nowadays “it is up to us to make the conscious choice toward God.” (Chris) Sheridan. The reason is in a more everyday sense if we want something in particular or we strongly pray to make a dream comes true, then we have to be willing to move forward as in the image. God himself is just an example to show that maybe our goals are right in front of us and it is waiting for us to reach, the same way Adam waiting for God’s divine touch. Nevertheless, sometimes, there are some unfortunate reasons which will block your way and enable you to get your goals like the fact Adam’s finger is limp and lazily reclines to meet his creator’s touch.