The Deluge

The Deluge was actually the first narrative scene Michelangelo painted on the Sistine Chapel ceiling, begun in 1508. It depicts the biblical flood that destroyed humanity, with Noah's ark floating in the background as desperate people struggle to survive the rising waters.

The composition shows terrified figures climbing rocks and clinging to a makeshift raft. A father carries his dead son's body. The ark appears tiny in the distance, emphasizing humanity's doom. Technical problems plagued this early panel. Mold appeared in the plaster, forcing Michelangelo to repaint sections. He also painted too many small figures, making them hard to see from the chapel floor. He learned from these mistakes, making subsequent figures larger and compositions simpler. The scene remains in the Vatican Museums' Sistine Chapel.