{Michelangelo's Sistine Chapel [continued]}[5th July 1987]

[Redbook4:5][19870705:1745e]{Michelangelo's Sistine Chapel [continued]}[5^th July 1987]

19870705.1745

[continued]

Both the analyses* I have read take the Prophets and Sybils zig-zag [sic] across the ceiling – thereby (if I am right) ruling out right from the start a correct reading of the Ceiling, which should begin and end with Jonas and his God. The nine panels along the ceiling's centre show the structure in relation to God: all other aspects of the Ceiling then show Man's course around the structure, the furthest down the wall being (basically – although the supporting Putti are attached to their Prophets and Sybils) the furthest from the Centre. There are, as has been pointed out, two basic alternating types, i.e. Prophets & Sybils (with supporting Putti, Twin Genii, Marble Twins, Medallions and Ignudi), and Ancestors (with Families and Bronze Nudes), but these are closely related to each other; I believe that they are all Outer Circle progressions, 'starting' via Hieremias (cf. Tarot V Hierophant)?), but that the central circles, in particular the Medallions (as indicated by the Ignudi pulling two ways, and their reactions), and the Prophets/Sybils themselves, show a less-emphasised Inner Circle turning (as she turns) at Libica – who is the equivalent of xS in [2], and the girl on the Tarot XIV 'Temperance'.

The Ancestors, of course, are not Ancestors (and the Families are not Families) except in name: the 'Ancestors' show (I think) progression or stages of family life round the Outer Circle, particularly from the male point of view (I am hampered by apparent confusion in Michelangelo Rediscovered between left and right; I try holding the book face-down and end-on over my head, but it doesn't always seem to agree with the text, which contradicts itself). The 'Families' above are more enigmatic, but seem to show a similar progression from a more female point of view; this may be reversible (i.e as Inner Circle), or not.

*[Of the Sistine Chapel – see last previous entry.] (The other is Rolf Schott's [presumably Thames and Hudson, 1965 edition of the life and work of Michelangelo, which includes colour plates of images from the Sistine Chapel].)

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