The Prophets and Sibyls of the Sistine Chapel.Michelangelo's Prophets and Sibyls painted in the Sistine Chapel are comanding works of art in their own right. These figures, are the largest on the Vault of the Chapel. Around the centre of the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel are twelve prophetic figures all representing the coming of Christ. Seven of these are Israeli Prophets, and the remaining five are the female Sibyls of the Classical World. The pagan Sibyls have been included to symbolise that the Messiah was to come for all the people of the world and not just the Jews. They are:- Jonah, Jeremiah, Persian Sibyl, Ezekiel, Erythraean Sibyl, Joel, Zechariah, Delphic Sibyl, Isaiah, Cumaean Sibyl, Daniel, Libyan Sibyl
Jonah. (w)
Jeremiah. (s)
Persian Sibyl. (w)
Ezekiel. (s)
Erythraean Sibyl (w)
Joel (s)
Zechariah (w)
Delphic Sibyl. (s)
Isaiah. (s)
Cumaean Sibyl. (s) Personal Opinion:- Could Michelangelo paint women? For an artist of his stature the answer is undoubtedly yes. He just seems to be more interested in the heavy male body than any delicate interpretation of femininity. Just look at the muscular form of the Cumaean Sibyl above, it is intended to be a rendition of an aged old woman but she looks like an Olympic hammer thrower! Even the Delphic Sibyl (scroll up) who has at least the features of a female, seems to have very male like arms almost as if the head of a woman has been transplanted onto a male body. It could be that the way Michelangelo depicts the human form is directly related to his own sexuality, or; perhaps all Renaissance women were very well fed!
Daniel. (s)
Libyan Sibyl. (s) From prophets and Sibyls back to the Sistine Chapel Michelangelo's Last Judgement Home Page
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