Sistine Chapel ceiling diagram Michelangelo Buonarroti (1475-1564)

This image is a diagram of Michelangelos Sistine Chapel ceiling, with various sections outlined and labeled. The overall structure of the ceiling is depicted, showing the central narrative panels, the surrounding prophets and sibyls, and the lunettes and spandrels containing the ancestors of Jesus.

The central panels, highlighted in different colors, depict key biblical events. From left to right, these include: the story of Noah (drunkenness, the Great Flood, sacrifice after the flood), and the Creation and Fall of Adam and Eve (temptation, expulsion from Eden, God creating Eve, God creating Adam, God dividing water from earth, God creating the sun and planets, creation of light from darkness). To the far right of the central narrative is the story of Jonah.

Surrounding the central narrative are figures of prophets and sibyls, identified by name such as Isaiah, Daniel, Joel, Ezekiel, Jeremiah, and various Sibyls (Delphic, Cumean, Libyan, Eritrean, Persian). These figures are presented in triangular or trapezoidal frames within the larger composition.

Along the top and sides of the ceiling, in arched or lunette shapes, are depicted figures identified as ancestors of Jesus, with names like Eleazar, Mathan, Jacob, Joseph, Azor & Sadoc, Josias & others, Ezekias & others, Asa & others, Jesse & others, and Naason.

The diagram uses colored blocks at the bottom to categorize the different sections: Ancestors of Jesus, Three stories of Noah, The creation and downfall of Adam and Eve, The Creation, and Prophets and Sibyls.

The subtexts of this diagram are:

• Educational Tool: It serves as a guide to understanding the complex iconography and narrative organization of the Sistine Chapel ceiling. By segmenting and labeling the various frescoes, it helps viewers identify individual scenes and figures.
• Theological Narrative: It visually presents a chronological and theological progression from the creation of the world to the ancestry of Jesus, highlighting pivotal moments in salvation history according to Judeo-Christian tradition.
• Art Historical Significance: It points to the masterwork of Michelangelo and the specific ways in which he chose to depict these sacred stories, emphasizing the roles of both Old Testament figures and prophetic prefigurations of Christ.
• Symbolic Representation: The prophets and sibyls, representing both Jewish prophecy and pagan prophecy respectively, symbolize the universal anticipation of a messiah, bridging the gap between the Old and New Testaments. The inclusion of ancestors of Jesus emphasizes the lineage leading to the redemption.