The Creation of Adam

The Creation of Adam is one of the most renowned works of Michelangelo, one of most well known of the Renaissance art masters. Dating from 1508 to 1512 as the time of its creation, it's a fresco painting forming part of the artwork in the Sistine Chapel.

Not only is it considered a well-known piece of art considered iconic in the Christian world, its also been the subject of much reference and parody, including internet memes.

Tropes used in The Creation of Adam include:


  • A Form You Are Comfortable With: By necessity, since God's true form is unknown, the depiction in the painting has to be this, as his real glory is something according to The Bible as something no man can look upon and live due to His holiness.
  • Christianity: It was created as artwork for a chapel.
  • God: Portrayed as reaching out to Adam, the first man depicted in the Book of Genesis.
  • God Is Good: As portrayed, God is making a connection between Man and Himself, with the art showing God wanting to establish a relationship of trust with his creation.
  • God in Human Form: God as portrayed in the work itself.
    • Grandpa God: The specific depiction, is meant to convey aged wisdom.
  • Holy Halo: None of the figures in the work have one, a rarity for a religious art piece of its time. While God does not have one for obvious reasons, and Adam is portrayed as a mere man seeking a connection with God, there is no explanation for the other figures in the painting not having one.
  • Magnum Opus: An interesting case in which it's not only one of its creator's most well-known and beloved works, but it's also a portion of an even larger example of this trope.
  • Male Frontal Nudity: Adam is depicted completely naked and unashamed, much like he was before the Fall as depicted in the Book of Genesis.
  • Memetic Mutation: While a common subject of contemporary parody, it was even a meme of its time, being a representation of the connection between Man and God in artistic form.
  • Obvious Beta: Two sketches were drawn of the work in prototype form, now to be found at the British Museum.
  • Riddle for the Ages: It's not entirely clear just who the figures in the background behind God in the artwork are supposed to represent.
  • Saintly Church: The artwork forms part of a collage glorifying a church with this trope in its theme.
  • Sistine Steal: This is the original image this trope is based on.
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