Oasis of Eternity -- Michelangelo 7: Sistine Chapel Ceiling Again

Oasis of Eternity -- Michelangelo 6: The Dome of Saint Peter's Basilica

Michelangelo, who often called as “Il Divino” (The Divine One) in his life time designed and became a chief architect the dome (cupola) of Saint Peter’s Basilica, Vatican City, Rome in 1546. After his death, the work continued by Giacomo della Porta with the assistance of Domenico Fontana.


The dome has a diameter of 42 meter and it is the largest dome in the world. It is reaching 138 meter high. The site is the buried site of Saint Peter, one of the apostle of Jesus Christ in 64 A.D.

Oasis of Eternity -- Michelangelo 5: David

David, is one of the two masterpiece sculptured by Michelangelo from 1501 to 1504. The marble statue is 17 ft height. It originally placed in front of the Palazzo Vecchio, Florence but later on moved to Accademia Gallery, Florence in 1873 to protect it from damage.

The statue portrays the Biblical King David before he battles with Goliath. It represents a spirit of Florentine Republic, an independent city state threaten by more powerful rival states. To the citizen of Firenze (Florence), David was a symbol of fortezza and ira, strength and anger. It is a cunning victor over superior enemies. Unlike previous Davids, who shown after victory against Goliath, David by Michelangelo shows his determination and courage to fight against a more superior enemy.

There are two replica of David in Firenze, one in front of the old city hall, and one on a hill overlooking the city.

Oasis of Eternity -- Michelangelo 4: The Pieta

The Pieta, which many regard as the greatest sculpture ever made is located in Saint Peter’s Basilica, Vatican City, Rome. It is created by Michelangelo from 1498 to 1500. The marble sculpture was finished before he turned to 25. The art marble depicts the body of Jesus in the arms of his mother Mary after the Crucifixion.

Giorgio Vasari, Italian painter and architect in his “Lives of the Artists” published in 1550, comment: "It would be impossible for any craftsman or sculptor no matter how brilliant ever to surpass the grace or design of this work, or try to cut and polish the marble with the skill that Michelangelo displayed. For the Pieta was a revelation of all the potentialities and force of the art of sculpture. Among the many beautiful features (including the inspired draperies) this is notably demonstrated by the body of Christ itself. It would be impossible to find a body showing greater mastery of art and possessing more beautiful members, or a nude with more detail in the muscles, veins, and nerves stretched over their framework of bones, or a more deathly corpse. The lovely expression of the head, the harmony in the joints and attachments of the arms, legs, and trunk, and the fine tracery of the veins are all so wonderful that it is hard to believe that the hand of an artist could have executed this inspired and admirable work so perfectly and in so short a time. It is certainly a miracle that a formless block of stone could ever have been reduced to a perfection that nature is scarcely able to create in the flesh."

Oasis of Eternity -- Michelangelo 3: Sistine Chapel Ceiling

The paintings on the ceiling of Sistine Chapel were done by Michelangelo from 1508 to 1512. The paintings include 9 scenes from the Book of Genesis, the order of the scenes from the altar towards the main entrance:

1. The Separation of Light and Dark
2. The Creation of the Sun, Moon, and Planets
3. The Separation of Land and Water



4. The Creation of Adam
5. The Creation of Eve
6. The Temptation and Expulsion



7. The Sacrifice of Noah
8. The Flood
9. Drunkenness of Noah

Oasis of Eternity – Michelangelo 2: The Creation of Adam

The painting is done by Michelangelo in 1511 on the ceiling of Sistine Chapel, Vatican City, Rome. Eve, appeared in Adam's left leg. Besides his expertise in arts, his human anatomy’s knowledge could not be under estimate. In 1990, a physician named Frank Lynn Meshberger noted that the background figures and shapes portrayed behind the God appeared to be an anatomically accurate picture of the human brain, including the frontal lobe, optic chiasm, brain stem, pituitary gland and the major sulci of the cerebrum. Also, the red cloth around the God has the shape of human uterus and the green scarf hanging could be a cut umbilical cord.

Oasis of Eternity -- Michelangelo 1: The Last Judgement Day

The picture (1537-41) is a masterpiece of Michelangelo on the ceiling and altar wall of Sistine Chapel, Vatican City, Rome. The artist's self-portrait appears twice in the picture: in the flayed skin with Saint Bartholomew is carrying in his left-hand, and in the figure in the lower left hand corner, who is looking encouragingly at those rising from their grave.

Preview: Oasis of Eternity -- Michelangelo