The Sacred and Profane in the Work of Michelangelo: His Ultimate Defeat and Greatest Reprisal
Description/Abstract/Artist Statement
Michelangelo Buonarroti was an Italian sculptor and painter that consistently posed both sacred and profane themes within his work. These conflicting themes led to the early failure of Bacchus. Although scholars have acknowledged that this plagued Michelangelo throughout his life, they do not explain how this manifested visually into his art. This paper argues that Michelangelo painted The Drunkenness of Noah in the Sistine Chapel as a response to this loss. Michelangelo was both angry and ashamed over his Bacchus, which is expressed in the fresco through the examination of the artist’s mental state, education, and the story of Noah.
Faculty Advisor/Mentor
Dr. Anne Muraoka
Presentation Type
Oral Presentation
Disciplines
Ancient, Medieval, Renaissance and Baroque Art and Architecture
Session Title
Art History 2
Location
Learning Commons @ Perry Library Conference Room 1306
Start Date
2-2-2019 10:15 AM
End Date
2-2-2019 11:15 AM
The Sacred and Profane in the Work of Michelangelo: His Ultimate Defeat and Greatest Reprisal
Learning Commons @ Perry Library Conference Room 1306
Michelangelo Buonarroti was an Italian sculptor and painter that consistently posed both sacred and profane themes within his work. These conflicting themes led to the early failure of Bacchus. Although scholars have acknowledged that this plagued Michelangelo throughout his life, they do not explain how this manifested visually into his art. This paper argues that Michelangelo painted The Drunkenness of Noah in the Sistine Chapel as a response to this loss. Michelangelo was both angry and ashamed over his Bacchus, which is expressed in the fresco through the examination of the artist’s mental state, education, and the story of Noah.