The Creation of Adam
The artist
Michelangelo, an Italian Renaissance master who was a sculptor, painter, and architect.
What you see
God reaches out toward the first man, Adam, and their fingers almost touch in a famous, gentle moment.
The story
Painted around 1512 on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel, it is one of the most copied and beloved images in the world.
The style
Michelangelo painted directly onto fresh plaster, a method called fresco, so the colors became part of the wall itself.
Look closer
Look at the tiny gap between the two fingers: that small space is the heart of the whole picture.
Where to see it
It is part of the huge ceiling of the Sistine Chapel in the Vatican, where visitors look up in wonder.
Fun fact
Michelangelo lay on his back high on a scaffold for years, painting the whole ceiling above his head.