This detail of the ceiling of the Sistene Chapel, Vatican, Rome, was painted by Michelangelo in 1508-1512 A.D. (Honour & Fleming, 2002). Pope Julius II commissioned Michelangelo to paint the Sistine Chapel ceiling (Honour & Fleming, 2002). Each section of the ceiling portrays a story from the Bible. The section where "God Separates the Water and the Earth" is the third section of the cieling from the West wall of the Sistene Chapel (Honour & Fleming, 2002). The subject contained in this detail of the ceiling is taken from the Chapter of Genesis in the Bible. In order to better understand what Michelangelo is portraying in the third section of the ceiling from the West wall, it is helpful to know the subjects of the two preceding sections of the ceiling and the section that follows. The first section is: "God Separates Light and Darkness". The second section is: "God Creates the Sun and the Moon and the Plants on the Earth". The third section (see the above photo) is: "God Separates the Water and Earth and Blesses His Work". The fourth section is: "Creation of Adam" (Honour & Fleming, 2002). In the third section: The idea of God is symbolized by a central figure, which is supposed to be neither male nor female, but is the Creator, Infinite Spirit. However, Michelangelo gives the central figure which symbolizes God, the physical appearance of a man because he is painted with a grey beard. The water is symbolized by the area colored blue behind the central figure of God. The earth is symbolized by the area colored beige in front of the central figure of God. There are three, nude, child angels behind the figure of God. The four, nude, men on the perimeter of section three of the ceiling, appear to not be part of the Biblical story; rather, they are present for artistic reasons only. Michelangelo thought that the male body made in God's image was the summit of physical and spiritual beauty, so he included these forms in this religious painting (Honour & Fleming, 2002). However, some art critics feel that the four, nude, men are "wingless angels and symbols of the rational soul" (Honour & Fleming, 2002).
The style in which Michelangelo painted "God Separates the Water and the Earth" and the rest of the ceiling of the Sistene Chapel, is done with complete freedom, elegance, use of vivid color, sculptural-like beauty of the forms, and dynamic poses (Honour & Fleming, 2002).
References:
Aston, M. (2003). Panorama of the Renaissance. London: Thames & Hudson, Ltd.
Honour, H. & Fleming, J. (2002). A World History of Art. London: Laurence King Publishing Ltd.
Hughes, A. (1999). Michelangelo. London: Phaidon Press Limited.
Kleiner, F., Mamiya, C., & Tansey, R. (2001). Gardner's Art Through The Ages. Vol.II. N.Y.: Harcourt College Publishers.
Wirtz, Rolf C. (2000). Art and Architecture: Florence. Oldenburg: Konemann.
