Comparing and Contrasting Michelangelo’s Creation of Adam and the medieval Adam and Eve
The “Creation of Adam” painted by Michelangelo and the Medieval Sculpture of Adam and Eve being reproached by the Lord portray significant differences. They, however, have an important similarity because they both portray religious subjects. The meanings of “Creation of Adam” and Adam and Eve sculpture are distinct because they were created at different times in history. The Creation of Adam was painted when humanism and individualism were at their peak during the renaissance period (Steinberg, 2016). On the contrary, the sculpture of Adam and Eve was curved during the medieval era in which art was primarily used to portray religion only.
The creation of Adam by Michelangelo can be viewed as largely concentrating on Adam as a person. In the image, God can be perceived as giving life to Adam through the touch. In the painting, both God and Adam are portrayed as ideal creatures, and this means that the artist had the ultimate value of human anatomy and maintained accuracy in his representation of the human person (Steinberg, 2016). The sculpture of Adam and Eve being reproached by the Lord is, however, not realistic in its representation. The observer is supposed to concentrate much on the message of the sculpture and the conventional story of creation to grasp the true meaning of the image (Britannica.com, 2020). The appearance of God is that of shaming Adam and Eve, and they also appear to be ashamed by their body language.
The Creation of Adam indicates that the interpretation of the power of God has changed significantly from the medieval era to modernity. In the medieval era, God was powerful, and humans were sinners. However, in the “Creation of Adam,” God and Adam are perceived as very close, and this sends a message of a positive relationship between humanity and the almighty. As can be observed, Adam is trying to reach out to God, and there appears to be a supernatural power in between them, thereby depicting God as all-powerful. Michelangelo’s influence of humanism is evident in the “Creation of Adam” in the sense that he concentrated on the anatomy of the figures, and this knowledge is revealed in the appearance of the image.
Reference
Britannica.com. (2020). “Adam and Eve Reproached by the Lord.” Retrieved from
https://www.britannica.com/topic/Adam-and-Eve-Reproached-by-the-Lord
Steinberg, L. (2016). Who’s Who in Michelangelo’s Creation of Adam: A Chronology of the
Picture’s Reluctant Self-Revelation. The Art Bulletin, 74(4), 552-566.