Looking Up
On this date in 1512, the public got to see Michelangelo's paintings on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel for the first time.
If a premier like that happened in this day and age, of course, you would have had a huge red carpet flanked by gold ropes heading into the Chapel,
with plastic-smile celebrities in ridiculous clothes waving to the screaming mob as they plowed through epileptic flashbulb stuttering as they sailed in, grabbed a cocktail and yelled into each other's ears over electronica so loud it could induce an earthquake, and shielded their eyes from more epileptic strobe lighting. Considering that the paintings in question depict scenes from the Bible, maybe that wouldn't have been such a good idea. Maybe it isn't now.
What do you suppose the Sistine Chapel ceiling's opening looked like? No strobes, no cocktails, no celebrity red carpet or paparazzi or screaming fans, but other than that it might have been quite similar. Maybe the wealthy of Rome strode through the door in their most ridiculous-looking clothes (and they could look pretty bizarre) and tried to impress each other. People are always more concerned with others' opinions than with God's, until they train themselves to think differently.
My favorite story about the Sistine Chapel paintings concerns Mozart, oddly enough.
It seems that he was on a concert tour with his father when he was just a genius kid, they visited the Chapel, and young Wolfgang loved the music in there so much he went home, wrote it down and played it for himself. Someone heard him and figured he must have stolen the music from the Chapel and made a copy, since no one could possibly remember a piece like that after one hearing, and especially since everyone who walked into the Chapel stared up at the ceiling and Michelangelo's paintings before they did anything else. Of course, Mozart (being a genius) had not stolen the music; he'd really remembered it, just as he said, and when the Pope found out about the incident he was so impressed he gave the kid a medal.
I've never seen the Chapel in person. Maybe one day I'll get the chance. Meantime, happy birthday to the paintings and thanks for the many years of joy.
Benshlomo says, Art needs love too.
If a premier like that happened in this day and age, of course, you would have had a huge red carpet flanked by gold ropes heading into the Chapel,
with plastic-smile celebrities in ridiculous clothes waving to the screaming mob as they plowed through epileptic flashbulb stuttering as they sailed in, grabbed a cocktail and yelled into each other's ears over electronica so loud it could induce an earthquake, and shielded their eyes from more epileptic strobe lighting. Considering that the paintings in question depict scenes from the Bible, maybe that wouldn't have been such a good idea. Maybe it isn't now.What do you suppose the Sistine Chapel ceiling's opening looked like? No strobes, no cocktails, no celebrity red carpet or paparazzi or screaming fans, but other than that it might have been quite similar. Maybe the wealthy of Rome strode through the door in their most ridiculous-looking clothes (and they could look pretty bizarre) and tried to impress each other. People are always more concerned with others' opinions than with God's, until they train themselves to think differently.
My favorite story about the Sistine Chapel paintings concerns Mozart, oddly enough.
It seems that he was on a concert tour with his father when he was just a genius kid, they visited the Chapel, and young Wolfgang loved the music in there so much he went home, wrote it down and played it for himself. Someone heard him and figured he must have stolen the music from the Chapel and made a copy, since no one could possibly remember a piece like that after one hearing, and especially since everyone who walked into the Chapel stared up at the ceiling and Michelangelo's paintings before they did anything else. Of course, Mozart (being a genius) had not stolen the music; he'd really remembered it, just as he said, and when the Pope found out about the incident he was so impressed he gave the kid a medal.I've never seen the Chapel in person. Maybe one day I'll get the chance. Meantime, happy birthday to the paintings and thanks for the many years of joy.
Benshlomo says, Art needs love too.
posted by benshlomo at 11:26 AM
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