The artwork titled “The Ancestors of Christ: Jechoniah, Shealtiel” was created by Michelangelo in 1512. This fresco, emblematic of the High Renaissance artistic movement, forms part of the larger series of Sistine Chapel Paintings. Measuring 215 x 430 cm, the artwork is located within the hallowed walls of the Sistine Chapel in the Vatican and belongs to the genre of religious painting.
In this specific fresco, Michelangelo portrays two ancestral figures from the lineage of Christ, Jechoniah and Shealtiel, accompanied by other figures including children. The composition is filled with rich, harmonious colors typical of the High Renaissance period. Both the figures and the surrounding architectural elements demonstrate Michelangelo’s adeptness in anatomy, detailed drapery, and spatial composition. The tablet bearing the names “Josias, Jechoniah, Salathiel” adds a textual element to the imagery, grounding the figures in their biblical context. The fresco interacts seamlessly with the architectural framework of the Chapel, exemplifying Michelangelo’s masterful integration of art and space.
