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Which biblical stories appear on the Sistine Chapel ceiling?
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Michelangelo
An engraving of Michelangelo derived from a portrait of the artist by Jacopino del Conte after 1535.
The ceiling of the Sistine Chapel features a series of frescoes by Michelangelo that primarily depict incidents and personages from the Old Testament.1
The central spine of the ceiling contains nine narrative scenes from the book of Genesis, which are organized into three thematic groups:23
- Creation of the World: Three scenes depicting God’s ordering of the universe, including the separation of light from darkness and the formation of the heavens and earth.23
- Stories of Adam and Eve: Three scenes detailing the creation of Adam, the creation of Eve, and the fall from God’s grace.23
- Stories of Noah: Three scenes covering events from the life of Noah, including The Flood and the drunkenness of Noah.43
Additionally, the ceiling includes ten medallions portraying other Old Testament scenes, as well as figures of seven prophets and five sibyls positioned around the edges. Below these, Michelangelo painted the 40 generations of Christ’s ancestors, beginning with Abraham.423