Michelangelo created the heroic figures of the Sistine Chapel ceiling immortalizing the glory of the human figure.
In particular, his twelve figures of the Sibyls of the ancient pagan world and the Prophets of the Old Testament project a view of man the thinker, the intellect, the scholar.
Many viewers have observed how sculptural are Michelangelo’s paintings. Hence, it occurred to me to translate them, not into the round, but into that stage between drawing and three dimensions: relief sculpture. Relief may vary from extraordinary flat, subtle gradations – such as the schiacciato of Donatello – to traditional bas relief to medio relievo to the high relief exhibited by many works of the Renaissance and since.
I chose to render Michelangelo’s figures in medium to high relief since my purpose was to show their sculptural, three dimensional potential, and, therefore, to move them away from two-dimensional drawings.
The inspiration for this particular project was, of course, the Ghiberti doors in Florence. Mine is a far more modest production, but it may, nonetheless, beguile you and give pleasure installed in an entryway, in a large hall, or any space large enough to allow taking in the whole integral piece.
Alternately any of the twelve reliefs may be ordered singly.
I hope that Michelangelo will forgive the imperfections of my translation of his mighty creations.
Michelangelo created the heroic figures of the Sistine Chapel ceiling immortalizing the glory of the human figure.
In particular, his twelve figures of the Sibyls of the ancient pagan world and the Prophets of the Old Testament project a view of man the thinker, the intellect, the scholar.
Many viewers have observed how sculptural are Michelangelo’s paintings. Hence, it occurred to me to translate them, not into the round, but into that stage between drawing and three dimensions: relief sculpture. Relief may vary from extraordinary flat, subtle gradations – such as the schiacciato of Donatello – to traditional bas relief to medio relievo to the high relief exhibited by many works of the Renaissance and since.
I chose to render Michelangelo’s figures in medium to high relief since my purpose was to show their sculptural, three dimensional potential, and, therefore, to move them away from two-dimensional drawings.
The inspiration for this particular project was, of course, the Ghiberti doors in Florence. Mine is a far more modest production, but it may, nonetheless, beguile you and give pleasure installed in an entryway, in a large hall, or any space large enough to allow taking in the whole integral piece.
Alternately any of the twelve reliefs may be ordered singly.
I hope that Michelangelo will forgive the imperfections of my translation of his mighty creations.