Michelangelo, Delphic Sibyl, 1508-12
Sistine Chapel Ceiling, Vatican City
(Image Source)
For reasons I don't quite understand, this is possibly my favourite figure from Michelangelo's EPIC Sistine Ceiling fresco. Bordering the scenes from Genesis, Michelangelo painted a number of biblical and classical seers who allegedly foretold the coming of Christ. The Delphic Sibyl - not to be confused with the Oracle at Delphi (Pythia), being one of them. The Sibyl looks away from her attendants and is about to enter a trance, as seen by her open mouth, wide-open gaze and unfocused eyes.
Sistine Chapel Ceiling, Vatican City
(Image Source)
For reasons I don't quite understand, this is possibly my favourite figure from Michelangelo's EPIC Sistine Ceiling fresco. Bordering the scenes from Genesis, Michelangelo painted a number of biblical and classical seers who allegedly foretold the coming of Christ. The Delphic Sibyl - not to be confused with the Oracle at Delphi (Pythia), being one of them. The Sibyl looks away from her attendants and is about to enter a trance, as seen by her open mouth, wide-open gaze and unfocused eyes.
This was one of the first completed figures of the ceiling and is therefore quite small compared to the later figures. According to Vasari, Michelangelo took a look at the partially completed ceiling, realised the first bits were too small and accordingly made figures of the second half of the ceiling much larger. I'm also pretty sure the image I've used is post-restoration as seen by the super-bright colours of her gown and cape.
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