MICHELANGELO Buonarroti
(b. 1475, Caprese, d. 1564, Roma)

The ceiling (detail)

1508-12
Fresco
Cappella Sistina, Vatican

The picture shows a transversal section of the ceiling with a smaller field of the apex of the ceiling. It demonstrates the following design elements:

thrones for the Prophets and Sibyls;

one of the seven Prophets (Ezekiel), one of the five Sibyls (Cumaean);

two of the twenty-four square pedestals forming niches for the Prophets and Sibyls and surmounted by twin 'putti' (a boy and a girl) in relief;

two small angels as a background to the enthroned figures;

two of the ten white angular cornices joining the capitals of the putti-pilasters;

four of the twenty 'ignudi' occupying the cornices, holding cornucopias, ribbons and garlands of fruit;

two of the ten gold medallions in reliefs depicting scenes from the Book of Kings and supported by two ignudi;

one of the five smaller fields of the apex of the ceiling guarded by four ignudi and covered by a scene from the Genesis (The Creation of Eve).