The Sistine Chapel: Impact On Society

As previously stated in the last journal entry I am completely enthralled with the Sistine Chapel. It is because of this you will find I have repeated some of my answers. This class is the main reason I have added visiting The Sistine Chapel to my bucket list.
Which artwork or invention do you think had the greatest impact on today’s society? The Sistine Chapel presents as the artwork having the greatest impact on society. Said to tell the story of the creation of mankind through illustration, this incredible artistic creation presents painted curtains, or tapestries to represent the Great Theatre of Life. The Chapel underwent three stages of paintings to unveil a creative explosion. The chapel is full of many busy scenes and told stories
of Christ with pure color. The paintings depicted a great deal of Roman influence. Michael Angelo was commissioned to paint the ceiling of the now expanded chapel and completed the project after nearly 3.5 years. The layout of the structure presented the paintings in 9 panels. Near the entrance, images of the sun, moon and vegetation is illustrated. The paintings focused on the act of creation. The story of Adam and Eve is illustrated near the dead center of the chapel, which lends thought to the creation. Other brilliant scenes depict Noah’s Ark in the form of crowd scenes and yet others show the point where the past meets the future, or the juncture point. The Last Judgement is painted destiny and leaves a legacy of excellence. Throughout the chapel, there lies a series of figures with beautiful bodies, 391 to be exact, each with a unique and none alike. They depict the struggle and the rise and illustrate white and black man pulled up together showing solid unity. Other illustrations show athlete figures indicating the ability to overcome diversity. Presiding over the entire assembly is illustration of Christ with inner strength as external power. Christ is a powerful judge along with the Virgin Mary by his side. The imagery shows individuals pulled up by the angels with the use of their rosaries. Angels are viewed blowing their trumpets in attempts to wake the dead. Of unique importance is the illustration of the Damned Man with demons holding the legs. The figures are intentionally ugly with a depiction of heads as to small and torsos as large. The body is full of symbolic value. St Bartholomew was murdered because of his skin being removed while he was still alive. The scene illustrates an individual holding a knife, looking up at Christ. Over time, there were many complaints about the nudity contained within the chapel paintings and resulted in two additional illustrations to the painting; one of the man who complained and another of a self-portrait. The Sistine Chapel forces one to look around and inspires us to ask the questions, “Who am I”? and “What role do I play”? After 30 years of complaints about the pornography, the church identified a compromise and unveiled 30 new covers throughout the chapel.
Which artwork or invention do you think is the most dramatic, and why?
In my opinion all the places are dramatic, however, the one that caught my attention the most from first sight was San Paolo and upon reading it was further confirmed.
Having been destroyed in a raid back in the 900’s to be rebuilt and then almost completely destroyed again after a fire in 1823. The basilica was rebuilt and reopened in 1840 and re-consecrated in 1855 with the visit of Pope Pius IX and 50 cardinals. The total design and reconstruction took longer however and many countries made their contributions. For example, the Viceroy of Egypt sent pillars of alabaster. The Italian government eventually made the Basilica a national monument. Again in 1891 the Basilica was victim to destruction when all its stained-glass windows were destroyed by an explosion of gunpowder. Because of the history of St. Paul’s Basilica is why I think it is the most dramatic. As many times, as it was “knocked down”, it was rebuilt and made more beautiful each
time.
Which one do you think is the most mysterious, why? The Sistine Chapel presents as the most mysterious of the arts.
This incredible art creation presents painted curtains, or tapestries to represent the Great Theatre of Life. The Chapel underwent three stages of paintings to unveil a creative explosion. The chapel is full of many busy scenes and told stories of Christ with pure color. The paintings depicted a great deal of Roman influence. Michelangelo was commissioned to paint the ceiling of the now expanded chapel and completed the project after nearly 3.5 years. The layout of the structure presented the paintings in 9 panels. Near the entrance, images of the sun, moon and vegetation is illustrated. The paintings focused on the act of creation. The story of Adam and Eve is illustrated near the dead center of the chapel, which lends thought to the creation. Other brilliant scenes depict Noah’s Ark in the form of crowd scenes and yet others show the point where the past meets the future, or the juncture point. The Last Judgement is painted destiny and leaves a legacy of excellence. Throughout the chapel, there lies a series of figures with beautiful bodies, 391 to be exact, each with a uniqueness and none alike. They depict the struggle and the rise and illustrate white and black man pulled up together showing solid unity. Other illustrations show athlete figures indicating the ability to overcome diversity. Presiding over the entire assembly is illustration of Christ with inner strength as external power. Christ is a
powerful judge along with the Virgin Mary by his side. The imagery shows individuals pulled up by the angels with the use of their rosaries. Angels are viewed blowing their trumpets in attempts to wake the dead. Of unique importance is the illustration of the Damned Man with demons holding the legs. The figures are intentionally ugly with a depiction of heads as to small and torsos as large. The body is full of symbolic value. St Bartholomew was murdered because of his skin being removed while he was still alive. The scene illustrates an individual holding a knife, looking up at Christ. Over time, there were many complaints about the nudity contained within the chapel paintings and resulted in two additional illustrations to the painting; one of the man who complained and another of a self-portrait. The Sistine Chapel forces one to look around and inspires us to ask the questions, “Who am I”? and “What role do I play”? After 30 years of complaints about the pornography, the church identified a compromise and unveiled 30 new covers throughout the chapel.
If you had the choice of living near one of the sites, which one would you choose and why? Given an opportunity to live near one of the above, I believe I would choose the Sistine Chapel. This unique, mysterious and dramatic piece of art history is said to offer countless offerings of imagery and illustration depicting the creation of mankind and the struggles and tribulations that were encountered. Each corner of the chapel reveals new and imaginative scenes that can capture and mesmerize the viewer. Living near this enchanted piece of history allows the opportunity to take in each story telling piece of work as one visit surely would not grasp the true meaning of this work.
If you get the opportunity to show one of these historic sites to a close friend, which one would be at the top of your list, and why?
As previously stated in this review of the various art history, having the opportunity to see and share the experience of the Sistine Chapel and view the beauty and symbolism contained within would truly be one of the great opportunities of life. The color, symbolism and unique illustrations contained throughout the chapel leaves a lasting impression and certainly a desire to return to continue the absorption of such history and meaning within the chapel.
Which would be your last choice and why?
My last choice to visit would be the Santa Maria Maggiore. Although admittedly it is a tough decision to make as I find all the Basilicas we have toured to be beautiful and majestic I did find this one to be my least favorite. I am not sure if it is the “darkness” of the church itself. I feel as though after touring all the Basilicas this one was not as bright, it seemed more somber. I do appreciate the history of this Basilica and the mosaics of the Virgin Mary herself, Jesus? life and the old testament scenes, for example, that of Moses splitting the Red Sea. However, I think I can appreciate the others more profoundly. 2