Michelangelo Buonarroti: Wall sculpture “The Creation of Adam” (bronze)

When Michelangelo created the ceiling frescoes of the Sistine Chapel in Rome between 1508 and 1512, he already played a crucial role in the artistic and intellectual life of Italy. The ceiling fresco depicts the story of creation in nine scenes. At its center are two hands: the left, as seen from the viewer's perspective, belongs to the reclining Adam, the right to God the Father descending from a cloud. The indirect touch of their two index fingers made the fresco famous: with incredible lightness and elegance, the gesture symbolizes the miracle of creation. Michelangelo does not actually depict the creation of humankind, but rather its animation, showing the leaping of the divine spark. The wall-mounted object elevates the core of this spectacular work into the third dimension. The object enhances the three-dimensional effect and focuses entirely on its content: the longing for the divine and its fulfillment in masterful art.