Depictions of Adam in Renaissance Art by Ray Hadnett

The Altarpiece at Ghent was made in 1432 by Jan and Hubert van Eyck. Saint Bravo Cathedral in Ghent, Belgium is home to this masterpiece which is known as one of the most significant works of art in Europe.

PERFORMANCE TASK

rhadnett — 2015-04-02 02:01:39 UTC

BACKGROUND

rhadnett — 2015-04-02 04:20:02 UTC

The Creation of Adam was made in 1512 by Michelangelo. This world-famous painting is on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel in Rome.

WHAT DOES THIS DEPICT?

rhadnett — 2015-04-02 04:24:46 UTC

This painting depicts Adam covering his private area with a fig leaf, showing that he has already betrayed God, and that he feels self-conscious of his nakedness. Adam is shown with his left foot facing upwards, making him appear to be stepping out of the picture. This shows van Eyck's deeper message: that Adam is walking through the picture, into our daily lives among all of us. Adam is shown with a seemingly forlorn expression on his face. His apparent sadness has led many art historians to wonder about van Eyck's intention in this portrayal. Some have questioned if they are ashamed of their committal of original sin, or dismayed at the world they now look upon.

ADAM'S BACKGROUND

rhadnett — 2015-04-02 04:35:50 UTC

Adam is famous for being the first living human that was ever created. He was made in God's divine image in the Book of Genesis. Adam is known for betraying God's covenant by listening to Eve and falling for Satan's temptation.

WHAT DOES THIS DEPICT?

rhadnett — 2015-04-02 04:39:28 UTC

This painting depicts Adam laying upon the newly-made land,moments away from receiving his soul, as God, riding on a chariot of cherubim, creates him. The focal point of the episode of the Creation of Adam painting is the contact between the fingers of God and those of Adam, through which the breath of life is transmitted. By not painting the fingers of God and Adam touching and leaving a small space between the two, Michelangelo creates a tingling tension, an anticipation of that wonderous moment, as we all wait for God to complete his Creation of Adam.

ADAM IN TODAY'S SOCIETY

rhadnett — 2015-04-02 04:47:45 UTC

Today, Adam is seen quite a bit through modern representations of him and Eve. Many modern artists use Adam and Eve as muses for their artwork. Movies have been made to show a contemporary visual of their story, such as National Lampoon's: Adam and Eve. Michelangelo's painting of Adam's creation has also sparked tons of present-day parodies, using the original as a muse for comedic copies of the picture. The Creation of Adam has also been used as an advertisement. Lays used Michelangelo's masterpiece as propaganda for their famous potato chips.

THE CREATION OF ADAM

rhadnett — 2015-04-02 04:51:13 UTC

ABOUT THE AUTHORS

rhadnett — 2015-04-02 04:52:23 UTC

Brothers Jan and Hubert van Eyck were early Netherlandish painters active in Bruges and some of the most significant Northern Renaissance artists of the 15th century. Jan van Eyck, in particular, is famous for mastering the use of oil paintings, that emphasized a greater variety of color and detail.They collaborated for the Altarpiece at Ghent, painting one of the most complex pieces of the time.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

rhadnett — 2015-04-02 04:52:29 UTC

Michelangelo is a world-renound painter, who is known as one of the greatest of all time. Outside of painting, he was also a sculptor and an architect. He is most famous for his painting of David, and for his work in Vatican City, specifically in the Sistine Chapel.

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PERFORMANCE TASK EXPLANATION

rhadnett — 2015-04-02 05:41:56 UTC

For my performance task, I wrote one poem for The Altarpiece at Ghent and one poem for The Creation of Adam, and put them together in an iMovie with my voice reading over it.