What does the poem tell you about Michelangelo’s attitude to painting the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel?
1. What is a fresco painting? (see p. 80 if you are not sure)
2. Can you find the four main scenes on the ceiling – the Creation of the World, the Creation of Adam, the Fall in the Garden of Eden, and the Flood? What do these tell you about Michelangelo’s view of humans?
3. Michelangelo said, ‘the nearer painting approaches sculpture the better it is … sculpture is worse the nearer it approaches painting.’ Can you see the influence of sculpture in his painting of the figures on the ceiling of the chapel?
Do you think the poster for the film, E.T. copied the idea from Michelangelo’s Creation of Man? Can you find evidence to support your answer?
What difficulties did Michelangelo face in painting the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel?