1 . Michelangelo (1475-1564) is known as one of the greatest painters and sculptors in history. As a key figure of the High Renaissance, he is specifically celebrated for his ambitious approach to scale and his expertise on anatomy(解剖). While all of his masterworks convey his undeniable talent, his world-famous fresco(湿壁画) on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel stands above the rest.
Painted for the pope, the composition depicts a range of religious iconography(象征手法) in Michelangelo’s distinctive style, making it one of the most cherished masterpieces in the world.
The Sistine Chapel is a large chapel named after Pope Sixtus IV, who oversaw its restoration in the late 15th century. Historically, the chapel has had various important functions. Today, it still possesses its religious role, as it serves as the site where the next pope is elected.
What the Sistine Chapel is most well-known for, however, is its ceiling. Painted by Florentine fine artist Michelangelo di Lodovico Buonarroti Simoni between 1508 and 1512, the complex and colorful fresco is celebrated for its realistic figures, vast size, and innovative process.
By the early 16th century, Michelangelo were a respected artist known throughout Italy. He was particularly praised for his ability—both in painting and sculpture—figures with lifelike anatomical features, as evident in his famous David statue from 1504. Given the artist’s reputation, it is no surprise that Pope Julius ordered him to decorate the ceiling of Sistine Chapel, whose walls were already decorated with frescoes by Botticelli, Ghirlandaio, Perugino, and other famed artists.
While the pope’s plans for the ceiling was centered around a depiction of the 12 apostles(门徒), Michelangelo had bigger plans: he would paint several scenes in Bible featuring over 300 figures.
Like many other Italian Renaissance painters, he used a fresco technique, meaning he applied washes of paint to wet plaster(石灰泥). In order to create an illusion of depth, Michelangelo would remove some of the wet medium prior to painting. This method ended in visible “outlines” around his figures—a detail considered characteristic of the artist. As plaster dries quickly, Michelangelo worked in sections, applying planes of fresh plaster each day.
Today, the Sistine Chapel remains both a popular tourist destination and highly religious site. Roughly 25,000 people view the spectacular ceiling each day, proving the lasting legacy of one of Michelangelo’s most well-known works and of the striking art of the High Renaissance.
1. From paragraph 1, we know that Michelangelo ________.| A．had a good knowledge of building |
| B．had a particularly ambitious life goal |
| C．was expert at sculpting |
| D．stood above the chapel while painting |
| A．its production procedures are creative |
| B．the figures shown in the fresco are lifelike |
| C．it is large in size painted in black and white |
| D．it shows a number of scenes in the Bible |
| A．create outlines around the figures in it |
| B．apply all the fresh plaster in the beginning |
| C．remove some paint from the wet plaster |
| D．avoid making an illusion of depth |
| A．The Sistine Chapel, named after Pope Sixtus IV, was built up in the late 15th century. |
| B．The ceiling had partly been painted by other artists before Michelangelo started. |
| C．It was at the age of 33 that Michelangelo finished the seemingly impossible task. |
| D．The chapel maintained its religious function apart from being a scenic spot. |
