The Creation of Adam BY MICHELANGELO BUONARROTI (C. 1511) Michelangelo Buonarroti, “The Creation of Adam.” Circa 1511. Fresco. Sistine Chapel, Apostolic Palace, Vatican City. DIGITAL IMAGES AVAILABLE AT WWW.SOPHIAINSTITUTEFORTEACHERS.ORG Sacred Art and the Beatitudes Our Ultimate End Is Heaven The Creation of Adam, by Michelangelo Buonarroti (c. 1511) Directions: Take some time to quietly view and reflect on the art. Let yourself be inspired in any way that happens naturally. Then think about the questions below, and discuss them with your classmates. Conversation Questions 1. Whom do you see in this fresco, and what appears to be happening? 2. What do you notice about the colors the artist chose? How does the light look? Where is it coming from? 3. What are some feelings that this painting inspires in you? 4. How does Adam’s posture differ from the Father’s? 5. Why do you think Michelangelo painted the Father’s hand and Adam’s hand almost, but not quite, touching? 6. Who do you think are the figures with the Father? Why do you think so? 7. Read Genesis 1:26-27. How does this painting enhance your understanding of these verses? 8. Some physicians have suggested that the shape behind God the Father resembles the outline of a human brain. If this is true, why might Michelangelo have painted it that way? 9. How does this painting depict the ultimate end for which we are created? © SOPHIA INSTITUTE FOR TEACHERS 3 The Calling of St. Matthew BY CARAVAGGIO (C. 1599-1600) Caravaggio, The Calling of St. Matthew, c. 1599-1600, oil on canvas. Contarelli Chapel, Church of San Luigi dei Francesi. DIGITAL IMAGES AVAILABLE AT WWW.SOPHIAINSTITUTEFORTEACHERS.ORG Sacred Art and the Beatitudes Vocation: The Universal Call to Holiness The Calling of St. Matthew, by Caravaggio (c. 1599-1600) Directions: Take some time to quietly view and reflect on the art. Let yourself be inspired in any way that happens naturally. Then think about the questions below, and discuss them with your classmates. Conversation Questions 1. Whom do you see in this painting, and what appears to be happening? 2. What do you notice about the colors the artist chose? How does the light look? Where is it coming from? 3. What are some feelings that this painting inspires in you? 4. Who do you think is St. Matthew in this painting? Which figure is Jesus? 5. Jesus is the man to the far right pointing at St. Matthew (who is pointing at himself, appearing to say “Who, me?”). The older man standing next to Jesus is St. Peter. Why is St. Peter imitating Jesus? 6. Read Luke 5:27-28. How does this painting enhance your understanding of these verses? 7. If you were a figure in this painting, who would you be? 8. In your own life, are you listening for God’s call? What can you do to listen to it more carefully? © SOPHIA INSTITUTE FOR TEACHERS 57 The Agony in the Garden BY DOMÍNIKOS THEOTOKÓPOULOS (C. 1610-1612) Domínikos Theotokópoulos (El Greco), The Agony in the Garden (c. 1610-1612), Budapest Museum of Fine Arts. DIGITAL IMAGES AVAILABLE AT WWW.SOPHIAINSTITUTEFORTEACHERS.ORG Sacred Art and the Beatitudes Passions in the Christian Life The Agony in the Garden, by Domínikos Theotokópoulos (c. 1610-1612) Directions: Take some time to quietly view and reflect on the art. Let yourself be inspired in any way that happens naturally. Then think about the questions below, and discuss them with your classmates. Conversation Questions 1. When you look at this painting, what do you first notice? What is your favorite part? 2. Do the figures in this painting look realistic? If not, how would you describe the way they look? How do the unreal shapes add to the painting’s expressiveness? 3. Who are the people in this painting? What sorrowful mystery of the Rosary is depicted here? 4. Read Matthew 26:36-46 and Luke 22:39-46. How does this painting help you understand these verses? 5. What feelings does Jesus describe having in this Gospel passage? What other feelings do you think He might have experienced during this time? Why? 6. What do the Gospels tell us that Peter, James, and John were feeling? 7. What do this painting and the Gospel story of the Agony in the Garden teach us about how we should understand our feelings? © SOPHIA INSTITUTE FOR TEACHERS 77 The Annunciation BY LEONARDO DA VINCI (C. 1472) Leonardo da Vinci, The Annunciation. c. 1472. Oil on Panel, Uffizi Gallery, Florence, Italy. DIGITAL IMAGES AVAILABLE AT WWW.SOPHIAINSTITUTEFORTEACHERS.ORG Sacred Art and the Beatitudes Obedience The Annunciation, by Leonardo da Vinci (c. 1472) Directions: Take some time to quietly view and reflect on the art. Let yourself be inspired in any way that happens naturally. Then think about the questions below, and discuss them with your classmates. Conversation Questions 1. When you first look at this painting, what do you notice? What is your favorite part of the painting and why? 2. Who are the figures in this painting? 3. What is this event known as? 4. What do you notice about the overall composition of the painting: the colors, the background, the lighting, etc.? 5. Read Luke 1:26-30. What does the archangel Gabriel tell the Blessed Virgin Mary? How does she feel at first? What is her response to the news she receives? 6. The Blessed Virgin Mary is a perfect example of obedience. Why? 7. What would your reaction be if an angel told you about a special mission God wanted you to carry out? © SOPHIA INSTITUTE FOR TEACHERS 113 The Last Judgment BY MICHELANGELO BUONARROTI (C. 1536-1541) Michelangelo Buonarroti, The Last Judgment (1536-1541), fresco, Sistine Chapel, Apostolic Palace, Vatican City. DIGITAL IMAGES AVAILABLE AT WWW.SOPHIAINSTITUTEFORTEACHERS.ORG Sacred Art and the Beatitudes The Beatitudes and Moral Choices The Last Judgment, by Michelangelo Buonarroti (c. 1536-1541) Directions: Take some time to quietly view and reflect on the art. Let yourself be inspired in any way that happens naturally. Then think about the questions below, and discuss them with your classmates. Conversation Questions 1. Where can you see this work of art? How long did it take Michelangelo to complete it? 2. Who is the central figure of this masterpiece? What does He seem to be doing with His hands? 3. What is the main contrast you see in this fresco? What are the two kinds of souls, and what is happening to them? 4. Is it possible to understand some truth from this painting even without knowing who all the people are, or what exactly is happening in every part of the painting? If so, what is that truth? 5. This fresco is on the altar wall of the Sistine Chapel. It is huge — 44 feet by 39 feet, or almost four stories tall. Imagine yourself viewing it in real life, amid the incense, candles, and softly murmured prayers in the chapel. How do you think the scale of the work of art would affect you? 6. The walls and ceiling of the Sistine Chapel are almost entirely covered with beautiful frescoes. You have to crane your neck to see all of them, and even use binoculars to see all the details. They took many years to complete at great expense. Why would the Church go through all that trouble? 7. Look for figures/scenes including the ones below. How do they add to the meaning of this work? ӹ The Virgin Mary ӹ Charon ӹ Sts. Peter and Paul ӹ King Minos ӹ Scenes from Christ’s Passion © SOPHIA INSTITUTE FOR TEACHERS 149 The Anastasis Apse fresco of the Anastasis, Church of the Holy Saviour in Chora. DIGITAL IMAGES AVAILABLE AT WWW.SOPHIAINSTITUTEFORTEACHERS.ORG Sacred Art and the Beatitudes Who Are the Blessed? The Anastasis, Church of the Holy Saviour Directions: Take some time to quietly view and reflect on the art. Let yourself be inspired in any way that happens naturally. Then think about the questions below, and discuss them with your classmates. Conversation Questions 1. When you look at this fresco, what do you first notice? What is your favorite part? 2. How would you describe the overall mood of this work of art? 3. Recite the Apostles Creed. What event described in that profession of faith does this fresco depict? 4. Off to the sides are King David, King Solomon, St. John the Baptist, Abel, and others. Who do you think are the two people whom Jesus grasps by the wrists? 5. How would you describe Jesus’ posture? What does the artist show us about who Christ is by the way he painted Him? 6. Read Matthew 16:18. What does this fresco teach us about Jesus’ promises to all of humanity? © SOPHIA INSTITUTE FOR TEACHERS 161.