Michelangelo's Story of Genesis
on the Ceiling of the Sistine Chapel
Scenes from Genesis
The Separation of Light and Dark
God said, Let there be light. And light appeared and
God liked how the light was and so he separated the light from the dark. He called the
light day and the dark was called night.
In this panel, Michelangelos shows God with Light and Dark on Each side of
him as he expresses his satisfaction with the creation of the earth.
The Creation of the Stars and Planets
Here God is surrounded by angels and his arms are extended pointing to the sun
and a moon.
Creation of the Sun and Moon purchase info
The Creation of the Creatures of the Sea (or The
Congregation of the Waters)
God said, Let the water teem with an abundance of living
creatures. He saw how good it was and said for the creatures to be fertile,
multiply, and fill the waters of the sea.
God is shown surrounded by four angels. Gods arms are extended and are pointed to
an oval and a forming fish. The angels are holding down the fish and the other two angels
surround the oval.
Genesis: The Creation of Adam
The Creation of Adam
God who formed Adam out of clay. God blew into Adams
nostrils, which gave him the gift of life.
In this painting, God has his right arm extended to Adam, their fingers
touching as God awakens his human creation. Eve is emerging from under God's left
arm, and the human race is to follow.
The Creation of Adam purchase info
The Creation of Eve
In this painting, God creates Eve from the rib of Adam.
Genesis: Expulsion from Paradise
The Temptation and Expulsion from Eden
God told Adam not to eat any fruit from the tree of knowledge of
good and bad. The moment Adam ate a piece of fruit he was doomed to a life of toil.
Tempted by the serpent to taste the forbidden fruit, God expels Adam and Eve from
the Garden of Paradise.
Scenes from Genesis: Noah
The Sacrifice of Noah
God warned Noah of the flood and told Noah to build a large ark
filled with pitch in compartments. God also told him to bring two of every living creature
on earth. Noah did as told by God and he and the animals were saved from Gods
attempt to wipe out all evil.
This painting shows Noah supervising the care taking and careful handling of the
animals. A lot of Noahs men are helping him to take care of the animals and helping
with building of the ship and animal stalls.
It rained for forty days and forty nights in attempt for God to
wipe out every moving creature he made. He thought the creatures were evil, and wanted to
start over. Noah and all on the ark survived.
In this painting a town is being drowned out for their sins. People are clinging
to trees to escape the quickly rising waters.
The Drunkenness of Noah
Noah planted a vineyard and drank some wine. Noahs sons saw
him lying naked and covered him with a robe. Noah got mad when he woke and found out that
his son saw him naked, and cursed him to be the slaves of his brothers.
Here you see Noah lying down with a jug of wine next to him. Others are placing
clothes around him.
Scenes from the Old Testament
Paintings that comprise these panels:
Judith and Holofernes
David and Goliath
The brazen Serpent
The Punishment of Homas
Destruction of the House of Ahab
Prophets and Sibyls
Erythrean Sibyl purchase info
The Prophet Zechariah
Zechariah was the king of Israel and son of Jeroboam II. He was
also the prophet of Judah. He wrote about visions of historic and messianic restoration of
the temple, city, and the people of the city.
This old man is wearing red and green clothing and is flipping through the pages in a
book. He has a white beard which symbolizes he is old and wise.
The Prophet Joel
The Prophet Joel prophesized on oracles, on future
restoration of Israel, on his visions, and on symbolic actions.
A bald old man seen looking at a scroll held out in front of him. He is dressed in red,
white, and green garments.
The Prophet Ezekiel
The Prophet Ezekiel described the plague of locusts that invaded
Judea like an army. He also tells of the prophetic spirit of Israel. He describes of the
mountains dripping wine.
This old man is seen holding a scroll in one hand and looking at an angel behind him
scornfully. He is wearing red and white garments.
The Prophet Jonah
Jonah was the son of Amittai. God ordered him to go to Nineveh to
preach against the wickedness of the town. Jonah did not do this. God sent a storm and it
brought Jonahs ship close to shipwreck. Then God sent a large fish which swallowed
Jonah. Jonah prayed in the fishs belly for three days and three nights and God
ordered to fish to spit him up on the shore.
Jonah looks like a middle-aged man. He is leaning back and looking up and there is a
huge fish next to him. Two angels who seem to be guarding him accompany him.
The Delphic Sibyl
Here you see a young woman covered in blue and red garments holding a scroll.
Delphic Sibyl purchase info
The Cumaean Sibyl
This middle-aged woman is seen reading a huge book and is wearing red and white garments.
The Libyan Sibyl
This young woman is picking up a large book from behind him. She is dressed in
orange and white garments.
The Libyan Sibyl purchase info
The Last Judgment
The last judgment is a magnificent painting. It shows the judge, Christ, in heaven
with many elects around him. He is in the center and floating on a cloud. Angels are seen
carrying the cross in the upper left hand and right hand corners. In the left
center, Saints Lawrence, Andrew, and John the Baptist are illustrated. Center rights are
Saints Peter, Paul, Catherine, Sebastian and Simon. Lower left is a scene of the
resurrection of the dead. Lower center are Angelic Trumpeters with books of good and evil.
Lower right are the damned dragged into hell.