Michelangelo destroyed many of his sketches, intending them for his eyes only. Of the hundreds of drawing sheets he created for the Sistine Chapel ceiling, fewer than 50 survive today. Discover nearly half of those sketches in Michelangelo: The Genesis of the Sistine, on view March 6th-May 28th in the newly renovated and expanded Muscarelle Museum of Art at William & Mary in Williamsburg, Virginia, USA.
Michelangelo: The Genesis of the Sistine’ pairs loans from leading Italian museums with 15 years of scholarship at Muscarelle’s newly renovated museum. The exhibition, exclusive to the Muscarelle, marks the 550th anniversary of Michelangelo’s birth and invites visitors to step into Renaissance Italy to discover the Master’s artistic genius.
The Genesis of the Sistine unfolds across five galleries, with the first three enveloped in deep blue hues and soft lighting that evoke the intimate atmosphere of the Sistine Chapel.
The exhibition focuses on 25 rarely displayed masterpiece drawings by Michelangelo, including the world debut of one believed to be his first exploration of the Sistine Chapel. In total, 38 objects, including engravings, lithographs and other materials, provide a deeper understanding of the origins of the artist’s greatest creations.
The Genesis of the Sistine also presents seven drawings on view for the first time in the United States, including two sketches of apostles. Originally part of a single sheet, these sketches offer a fascinating glimpse into Michelangelo’s initial, ultimately abandoned, vision for the iconic ceiling frescoes. The Muscarelle will reunite these almost forgotten sketches in a single frame for the first time.
Sketches
Beyond the 25 significant drawings, the exhibition features a captivating array of artifacts, including a portrait of Michelangelo by his contemporary Giuliano Bugiardini, on display for the first time in the United States, and two of Michelangelo’s sketches of himself painting the Sistine Chapel’s ceiling. A never-before-exhibited letter from Michelangelo’s friend Francesco Granacci, who, like Bugiardini, assisted in preparing the ceiling’s decoration, details the challenges of recruiting assistants. Life-size reproductions of the Sistine Chapel frescoes, including “The Creation of Adam,” invite visitors to experience the awe-inspiring scale of Michelangelo’s compositions.
Michelangelo: The Genesis of the Sistine was made possible through the Muscarelle Museum of Art’s longstanding relationships with leading Italian museums, including the Gallerie degli Uffizi, Casa Buonarroti and the Musei Reali, all of which are lending artworks for the exhibition.
Additionally, the Vatican Museums are providing original images of the Sistine Chapel for the richly illustrated catalogue authored by Adriano Marinazzo, curator of the exhibition and the Muscarelle’s curator of special projects.
Marinazzo, an art and architectural historian, has published numerous studies on the artist. The Genesis of the Sistine is the culmination of 15 years of scholarship that began with Marinazzo’s study of Michelangelo’s drawings and letters at Casa Buonarroti in Florence. While extensive research on the artist’s life and practice spans five centuries, Marinazzo’s access to archives at Casa Buonarroti and his long-standing relationship with the institution resulted in the fresh insights presented in The Genesis of the Sistine.
“The Genesis of the Sistine seeks to unveil Michelangelo’s brilliance, presenting him as an artist who confronted and transcended challenges to create something extraordinary,” said Marinazzo. “Michelangelo was the quintessential Renaissance man. Beyond being a sublime sculptor, painter and architect, he was a pioneer in human anatomy, an exceptional engineer and a sophisticated poet. The exhibition reflects the evolution of our understanding of Michelangelo as both an artist and a man.”
Continuity
Drawings for The Last Judgment, painted nearly 30 years after the ceiling, on the altar wall of the Sistine Chapel, demonstrate the artist’s evolving creative practice. Four preparatory sketches on view are among fewer than a dozen surviving examples and illustrate the continuity and interconnectedness of his projects over several decades.
The exhibition also marks the premiere of Marinazzo’s This is Not My Art, an immersive 3D video art installation that represents the Sistine ceiling’s architectural structure. Projected in a darkened gallery and accompanied by evocative music, the video highlights the complexity and beauty of Michelangelo’s invention.
“By combining the study of historical artworks with modern technology, I’ve been able to bring new perspectives to Michelangelo’s work. Digital tools have allowed me to compare artworks in new ways, trace connections between seemingly unrelated pieces and reconstruct lost or unseen details. These reconstructions have revealed nuances that deepen our understanding of Michelangelo’s creative process and his broader vision as an artist and thinker,” said Marinazzo.
A compelling juxtaposition of The Creation of Adam with a self-portrait hints at the artist’s perception of himself as the Creator. Unnoticed by critics until now, a drawing of Michelangelo painting on the Sistine Chapel scaffolding contains a nearly invisible preparatory sketch hidden on the same page. A memo written by Michelangelo, never before exhibited in America, further underscores the connection between the Sistine ceiling and the Tomb of Pope Julius II, emphasizing the interrelation of these two monumental projects both commissioned by the pope. These and other recent revelations provide fascinating insight into Michelangelo’s artistic career.
Monumental
“Michelangelo: The Genesis of the Sistine offers visitors an unparalleled opportunity to step into the mind of one of history’s greatest artists and witness the creative process behind a masterpiece widely considered the pinnacle of artistic achievement,” said Marinazzo. “I hope visitors leave with a deeper appreciation for Michelangelo’s creative journey — not only the monumental effort required to conceive and execute the Sistine ceiling but also the deeply human struggles, ambitions and evolving ideas that defined his work.”
The Genesis of the Sistine will be among the first exhibitions presented in the newly renovated and expanded Muscarelle Museum of Art, opening Feb. 8th. Designed by Pelli Clarke & Partners and named the Martha Wren Briggs Center for the Visual Arts, the building blends historic and contemporary design with nearly 60,000 square feet of enhanced space, tripling the Muscarelle’s exhibition capacity.
“The reimagined Muscarelle Museum of Art will allow visitors from across the region to immerse themselves in the visual arts in ways not formerly possible. Our collaboration with the outstanding architectural team from Pelli Clarke & Partners has resulted in a beautiful new venue that will become an important star in the cultural constellation of Virginia,” said David Brashear, director of the Muscarelle. “We look forward to inviting our community to experience Michelangelo: The Genesis of the Sistine, in this unique – and perhaps once-in-a-lifetime -opportunity to examine these rare Michelangelo works together outside of Italy.”
Related Programming
Docent-led Tours
11 a.m. and 2 p.m. daily
Explore “Michelangelo: The Genesis of the Sistine” with a docent and learn about the exhibition during tours offered twice daily during regular open hours. Tours for groups are available upon request.
Curator’s Opening Lecture
March 18th at 5 p.m.
Exhibition curator Adriano Marinazzo will introduce “Michelangelo: The Genesis of the Sistine,” sharing new insights from his extensive research on the subject. The talk will explore generative elements of the grand fresco and highlight the significance of Michelangelo’s preparatory drawings in the ideation of his masterpiece.
Film screening: “The Agony and the Ecstasy”
March 20th at 2 p.m.
In collaboration with the Ampersand International Arts Festival, see the 1965 classic at Williamsburg’s historic Kimball Theatre. Starring Charlton Heston and Rex Harrison, the film recounts the biographical story of Michelangelo’s troubles while painting the Sistine Chapel at the urging of Pope Julius II.
Virtual Book Talk with Author Ross King
March 30th at 2 p.m.
Muscarelle Museum of Art Director David Brashear will join New York Times-bestselling author Ross King for a conversation about his book “Michelangelo and the Pope’s Ceiling.”
“Michelangelo & Titian: A Tale of Titans” with William E. Wallace
April 8th at 5 p.m.
William E. Wallace, an internationally recognized authority on Michelangelo, will introduce scholarship from his upcoming book about the 40-year rivalry between Michelangelo and Titian. Wallace authored eight books on Michelangelo and is the chair of art history and archaeology at Washington University in St. Louis.
“Michelangelo: The Tomb and the Vault” with Adriano Marinazzo
April 28th at 5 p.m.
Explore connections between Michelangelo’s original project for the Tomb of Pope Julius II and his Sistine ceiling paintings, featuring 3D reconstructions of the unbuilt mausoleum. Adriano Marinazzo, exhibition curator, will lead the discussion.
About the Muscarelle Museum of Art
The Muscarelle Museum of Art is located on the historic campus of William & Mary. Its permanent collection of nearly 8,000 objects is one of the oldest campus-based collections of art in the U.S. The Museum serves as a working laboratory for the university, collaborating with faculty and staff in interdisciplinary ways and engaging students through internships, research and study, as well as a dynamic resource for the wider community. Through exhibitions, educational programming and community engagement, the Museum aims to serve as a catalyst for art exploration on campus and beyond.
For more information, visit muscarelle.wm.edu.
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