Art Lesson w/ Ms. Jennifer: Michaelangelo
Let’s express ourselves by drawing as if we are working on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel like the renaissance artist Michelangelo.
About the Artist:
Michelangelo di Lodovico Buonarroti Simoni was a painter, sculptor, architect, poet, and engineer. Michelangelo was born in Caprese Italy in 1475, and his family moved to the city of Florence when he was very young. He began studying art at a young age, and apprenticed in some well known painters, sculptors, and other artists’ studios.
His most famous works are the sculpture of David and Pieta, the design of the dome in St. Peter’s Basilica and also the painted frescoes on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel. He was commissioned by the Pope in 1508 to paint the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel. Michelangelo considered himself to be a sculptor, but agreed to paint the Sistine Chapel for the Pope. He worked long hours every day for four years, painting, looking up, standing on a 60 foot high scaffold in order to finish the painting. The painting is huge (141 feet long by 43 feet wide). It contains over 300 pictures of people. He studied human anatomy and used live models for his sketches. He was so uncomfortable working in such an awkward pose for so long, he made sketches like this one.
And he wrote poems about the process of painting this fresco.
The most famous of all the scenes in the Sistine Chapel is The Creation of Adam. At the center of the scene, God's hand and Adam's hand nearly touch. This is one of the most recreated scenes in all of art and, along with the Mona Lisa, is one of the most famous paintings in history.
Michelangelo was a brilliant man of many talents. He also worked as an architect and wrote poetry. In this way he was a true "Renaissance Man" along the lines of Leonardo da Vinci. He worked on the Medici Chapel, the Laurentian Library, and even the military fortifications of the city of Florence. Perhaps his most famous work was St. Peter's Basilica in Rome.
(The following links contain artwork of nude figures) You can read more about this amazing man here: https://kids.kiddle.co/Michelangelo
Or watch this short video here:
Materials:
Paper
Crayons or washable markers
Masking or blue painter’s tape
Desk or table
Instructions:
After reading about the challenges faced when painting the Sistine Chapel frescoes, let’s try our hand at drawing looking up. Gather your supplies and tape a large piece of drawing paper under a table.
Sit, squat, or kneel below the table and begin your drawing.
You will quickly notice how awkward and uncomfortable it is to draw and color while tilting your head back to look up at your work. Keep going for a few minutes more! Does it make your neck ache or pinch? Now imagine Michelangelo painting like this for FOUR years! He also had to deal with wet paint and plaster falling into his face as he worked. What a mess!
Keep trying to finish your drawing while looking up. When you are ready, carefully remove the tape, and you can finish your drawing in a more comfortable position. Do you notice how much better you can draw and color in a regular position? Michelangelo was such a great artist that even with his discomfort, his paintings are some of the most beautiful ever made.
For Doodlebugs Ages 2-5:
Doodlebugs will especially enjoy the novelty of drawing UNDER the table. Talk about the words under, over, bottom, and top. Doodlebugs might be able to draw under the table or counter in a full standing position, just like Michelangelo did.
Don’t forget to share your artwork with Jennfier@BlowingRockMuseum.org
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