described the pain he felt while painting the Sistine Chapel ceiling.
My belly's pushed by force beneath my chin.
My beard toward Heaven, I feel the back of my brain.
Upon my neck, I grow the breast of a Harpy;.
My brush, above my face continually.
Makes it a splendid floor by dripping down.
My loins have penetrated to my paunch.
My rump's a crupper, as a counterweight,.
And pointless the unseeing steps I go.
In front of me my skin is being stretched.
While it folds up behind and forms a knot.
And I am bending like a Syrian bow (Liebert 148).
Pope Julius' chief architect Bramante questioned Michelangelo's experience with.
frescos, but as he was a friend of the Pope, it was insisted upon that he be.
given the job. Michelangelo worked on the ceiling from July of 1508 to October.
31, 1512. He had hired five assistants to aid him in painting process. All in.
all, Michelangelo had painted three hundred and thirty-six assorted figures on.
the Sistine ceiling. This was an incredible feat and in the present, three.
hundred thirty-five and one-half of these figures still remain (Brandes, 162).
The overall organization of the fresco consists of four large triangles at the.
corner; a series of eight triangular spaces on the outer border; an intermediate.
series of figures; and nine central panels, all bound together with.
architectural motifs and nude male figures. The corner triangles depict heroic.
action in the Old Testament, while the other eight triangles depict the biblical.
ancestors of Jesus Christ. Michelangelo conceived and executed this huge work in.
only four years, the first half taking almost three years to complete. The.
paintings were done with the brightest colors that attracted attention to the.
whole ceiling as one entered to look. The ceiling was completed just a little.
after the Pope had died but has given the Sistine Chapel tremendous appeal for.
having the best fresco ever done.
In painting "The Last Judgment," Michelangelo was given the chance to.
