Description
Michelangelo Buonarroti's painting Eleazar - Matthan is a masterpiece that has captivated art lovers for centuries. This oil painting, with an original size of 215 x 430 cm, is one of the largest that the artist made in his career.
Michelangelo's artistic style is evident in this painting, with his meticulous attention to detail and his ability to create realistic and dynamic human figures. The composition is impressive, with the central figure of Eleazar at the center of the painting, flanked by Matthan and other Biblical characters. Perspective and scale are perfectly balanced, giving a sense of depth and movement to the work.
The color used in this painting is very rich and vibrant, especially in the clothing of the characters and in the architectural details of the scene. The use of light and shadow is also very effective, creating a sense of depth and volume in the figures.
The story behind this painting is fascinating. It was commissioned by Pope Julius II to decorate the Sistine Chapel in the Vatican. Michelangelo began work on the painting in 1511 and finished it in 1512. The painting depicts Eleazar, the father of Matthan, who is found in the genealogy of Jesus in the Gospel of Matthew.
A little known aspect of this painting is that Michelangelo had originally planned to include more figures in the composition, but due to time and space constraints he had to reduce the number of characters. It is also known that Michelangelo was not very happy with the quality of the painting, which may have been one of the reasons why he never signed it.
In short, the Eleazar - Matthan painting is a masterpiece of Renaissance art, displaying the skill and artistic vision of Michelangelo Buonarroti. Its artistic style, composition, color, and the story behind the work make it a fascinating piece for lovers of art and history.