Art & Authenticy

When I first entered I was amazed at all the different artworks that were displayed. The museum was filled with people. As I looked for Michelangelo’s First Painting, I noticed a lot of people were going in the same direction. I kept walking as I passed a group of people crowding around one area. I did not realize it until I asked someone that the painting I was looking for was the one everyone was looking at. I realized that many people had come here just to see this special exhibition on the last day it was on display here. Many were curious as to what Michelangelo painted his first painting of. Others were attracted to the name of Michelangelo as I heard a couple discussing his big name and his masterpiece, the Sistine Chapel.

I could not get a clear view of the painting until some of the admirers left the area. When I got close enough, I noticed that the artwork next to it was the original print of the painting. Michelangelo used this print and made it his own once he painted it. Even though it was the same drawing, Michelangelo’s painting made it different. It was like they were two completely different drawings yet very similar.

Although Michelangelo’s painting was based off of Martin Schongauer’s Saint Anthony Tormented by Demons, I thought that Michelangelo made it his own when he painted it. I noticed that Michelangelo had added a landscape to it, showing a small boat a river. Michelangelo put his own interpretation into it as he painted the demons the color that he thought they would look like. He painted the demons in all different colors showing how each of them is distinctive. And even though they were different, they all still portrayed their savagery against Saint Anthony. I felt that by adding color to the drawing, Michelangelo helps the audience understand what he saw when he first looked at Schongauer’s drawing.

When I first saw the painting, it gave me a distraught and scary feeling. The colors of the painting were very dark and exotic that portrayed the nature of the demons. Saint Anthony’s black cloak also helped in showing the horrific state he was in. I also felt overwhelmed by the amount of demons there were, each of them hitting, biting or pulling him.

I thought that Michelangelo had a great attention to detail in his painting. The river in the background was very unique. He also painted the rocks with moss as he even painted some of the moss coming off the rock. I thought the background matched the painting well in showing the situation that Saint Anthony was in, yet it did not take away from it either. When I looked deeper into the background, I was intrigued as to what the significance of the boat was. He also painted each demon its unique mix of colors. The difference in color and pattern made me look at and appreciate each demon individually.

As I left the museum, the painting made me want to learn more about it. When I looked at the painting online, I learned that it was not the same as looking at the painting live. I am glad that I had this experience and that I was able to appreciate the Michelangelo’s first painting in person.