Prophet Zechariah - Michelangelo Buonarroti

Prophet Zechariah

Michelangelo Buonarroti - Painter

1509

Fresco on Wall

360 x 390 cm
Cappella Sistina, Vatican

This fresco depicts the biblical prophet Zechariah accompanied by two angels.  As the angels are looking over Zechariah’s shoulder the innermost angel is making a gesture with his right hand.  When first looking at the painting it is easy to overlook this small detail, however it is symbolic to the feud that Michelangelo and Pope Julius II had during that time period.

The gesture the angel is making is called “the fig.”  This specific gesture was the equivalent of the Americans' middle finger.  In ancient Rome it was known as the “manus obscenus,” or “obscene hand.”  Although, this gesture has fallen out of use it was included in this painting by Michelangelo for the eyes of Pope Julius II.

In 1505, Pope Julius II called on Michelangelo to design and create an elaborate tomb for Pope Julius.  Michelangelo gladly accepted his first papal patron's offer and quit all of his other works, allowing all of his time and efforts to be placed solely in this project.  During the tomb's forty year production, Michelangelo drafted his final version of the tomb that included forty sculptures on three different stories.  It took one year alone to locate and transport the Carrara marble needed to begin  production of the tomb.  Michelangelo had committed a massive amount of time, energy, and talent to the project, only for the Pope to cease funding construction of his tomb. Although there is no concrete reason documented for the Pope’s abrupt decision, it was said that funding could have been a factor. Enraged at this decision, Michelangelo felt incredibly disrespected and he retreated to Florence to continue other works.

In 1508, Michelangelo and Pope Julius II crossed paths as the Pope called on Michelangelo yet again. Michelangelo hesitantly accepted this offer to paint the frescoes for the Sistine Chapel (all while Michelangelo was still working on the tomb at this time).  Many disputes were argued between the two as the production made way.  The constant disagreement and bitterness that Michelangelo felt over the years for Pope Julius II is what prompted this inclusion of “the fig” in Michelangelo's fresco of the prophet Zechariah.

References:

http://www.wga.hu/html_m/m/michelan/3sistina/3prophet/00_3pr1.html

Report by Lindsay Holden - 2015