欧美人文风情第54篇:米开朗基罗:《创造亚当》

 All right, cherubs¹. Right now we're looking at a detail from the Fresco² on the ceiling of Sistine Chapel³ by Michelangelo. 好的，天使们。现在我们要看米开朗基罗在西斯汀礼拜堂天花板上的局部壁画。

This particular detail is often called Creation of Adam and it's one of the most recognizable paintings ever made. 这块特定的局部通常被称作《创造亚当》，而它是至今最具辨识度的画作之一。

People often discuss how Michelangelo painted this while lying on his back, or use it for a fart joke Memes, 人们通常讨论米开朗基罗是怎么背靠在地上画出这个的，或是把它拿来做恶搞图，

but this has been reproduced for more interesting reasons. 但这画被复制是因为更有趣的理由。

It visually tells a story of God giving life to mankind out of dust, which is what Adam's name means. 它以视觉讲了上帝从尘土中给了人类生命的故事，而尘土正是亚当名字的意思。

Now that's a big task—how can one paint God? 现在那是个大工程－－人怎么可以画出上帝？

Michelangelo chose to make him look old and wise here, which God should be since he's infinitely⁴ old and infinitely wise. 米开朗基罗选择了让他在这看起来年长又有智慧，

But he's also really fit. Check out those triceps. 上帝应该这样，因为他是极其年老和极其有智慧的。

He's youthful and strong, which God should be since he's infinitely powerful and should be energetic enough to be infinitely present. 但他同样也非常强壮。看看那些三头肌。他朝气蓬勃又强壮，上帝应该这样，因为他是极其强大、应该要有足够的精力永远存在。

Adam is stationary⁵ here as dust is, while God is in motion, stretching to give...is it life? 亚当在这就跟尘土一样是静止的，然而上帝在移动中，伸展着要给他...是生命吗？

Adam already looks awake, I guess. He kind of has a blank stare here but his eyes are open. 亚当看起来已经是醒过来的，我猜。他在这像是有着无神的凝视，但他的双眼是睁开的。

He can be viewed as an allegory for dust: lifeless and still, waiting for the breath of life to enter him. 他可以被看做是尘土的象征：毫无生气且静止不动，等待着生命的气息进入它。

An interesting idea here is that God is giving Adam consciousness or intelligence. 这里一个很有趣的想法是，上帝正在给予亚当知觉或智慧。

This is perhaps the reason that it's so popular to discuss the relationship with God's vehicle, here, to the human brain. 这也许就是为何如此流行讨论神的乘坐工具，这里，与人类大脑关系的理由。

I mean, this does look like a brain. 我是说，这确实看起来像颗脑袋。

This scarf looks like a vertebral artery⁶, and this cherub's leg was like a pituitary gland⁷. 这条围巾看起来像脊椎动脉，而这个天使的腿像脑下垂体。

Some even claim this section of the painting here represents synapses⁸, 有些人甚至称画作的这区块代表神经突触，

which is a part of the neuron to transmit chemical or electrical signals to one another. 这是神经相互传递化学或电子讯号的部位。

Now Michelangelo certainly would not have known about synapsis, but the comparison is fun to think about. 米开朗基罗当然不会已经了解突触，但思考这比拟是很有趣的。

He did work with dissection⁹ and knew quite a bit about the human body. 他确实有做过解剖且了解相当多关于人体的事。

You can easily see his knowledge of anatomy¹⁰ in the Statue of David. So this brain theory isn't entirely¹¹ crazy. 你可以轻易地看出他对大卫像结构分析的了解。所以这个大脑理论并非完全疯狂的。

This part of the brain is called the occipital lobe¹², and it's partly responsible for sight. 大脑的这部份称为枕叶，它负责部分视觉。

Sight has an interesting relationship with consciousness, 视觉和知觉有种有趣的关系，

particularly when we think about an intellectual movement Michelangelo was a part of called Neoplatonism. 特别是当我们想到米开朗基罗曾参与、叫做新柏拉图派哲学的知识运动。

This movement, encouraged by the first Latin translations of Plato's work in Florence during the late 1,400's, 这个运动，由1,400晚期间在佛罗伦斯柏拉图作品的首批拉丁文翻译所引领，

revived Platonic¹³ philosophy and the content of ideal forms during the High Renaissance¹⁴. 在文艺复兴盛期使柏拉图哲学和理想形式的内涵重新流行起来。

Plato's works stressed the importance of metaphysical forms, immune to any corruption¹⁵, over temporary earthbound forms subject to decay. 柏拉图的作品强调了抽象形式的重要性，免于任何在受制于衰败的暂时、受世俗束缚的形式中任何腐化。

What we can visually see in the physical realm, using our occipital lobe, is a reflection of a higher ideal form, 我们可以在物质方面从视觉上看到的，利用我们的枕叶，是更高一等理想形式的反射，

and in the Christian¹⁶ framework, it's a reflection of the light of God. 而在基督教的架构中，这是上帝之光的反射。

Mankind uniquely has this double nature. We have the ability of comprehend like a God, 人类独特地拥有这种双重特质。我们拥有像上帝一样理解的能力，

but we have to perceive the universe with flaw senses made from dust. 但我们必须要用由尘土做成、带有缺陷的知觉来理解天地万物。

In this painting, Adam has been given the insight to recognize higher spiritual forms through their earthbound shadows or representations. 在这幅画中，亚当被给予识别出更高一等精神形式的洞察力，透过他们受世俗所束缚的幻影或是形象。

Michelangelo also plays with Neoplatonic thought by representing mankind in ideal form. 米开朗基罗同样也透过以理想形式描绘人类，摆弄新柏拉图派哲学的思想。

I mean, no man in the real world has that kind of muscle structure, or at least I'd like to think it's not possible. 我是说，在现实世界没有男人拥有那种肌肉结构，或至少我想认为这是不可能的。

By representing Adam in an ideal way rather than a natural way, 借由以理想的方式而不是自然的方式描绘出亚当，

he's forcing us to consider the idea of man rather than the physical and temporary real men. 他正迫使我们思考“男人的概念”、而不是实际上当代的“真正男人”。

It's interesting to think this painting illustrates¹⁷ God giving humanity the breath of life through consciousness and a physical brain 那是很有趣的，想想这幅画描绘出上帝给予人类生命的气息，透过知觉、以及透过其实就是那骑乘工具的实体脑袋，

that is literally¹⁸ the vehicle through which we can perceive the metaphysical by showing God riding on that vehicle. 透过那个我们可以借由表现出上帝骑乘着那工具，理解那抽象概念。

Just sit with that for a little while. 就接受那想法一下下。

If you like the way we discussed this painting and want to see more, 如果你喜欢我们讨论这幅画作的方式，且想要看更多，

please subscribe¹⁹ for a new art history video every other Monday. 请订阅以在每隔週一看到新的艺术史影片。

 

1 cherubs   

小天使，胖娃娃( cherub的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The high stern castle was a riot or carved gods, demons, knights, kings, warriors, mermaids, cherubs. 其尾部高耸的船楼上雕满了神仙、妖魔鬼怪、骑士、国王、勇士、美人鱼、天使。
• Angels, Cherubs and Seraphs-Dignity, glory and honor. 天使、小天使、六翼天使－尊严、荣耀和名誉。

2 fresco   

n.壁画；vt.作壁画于

参考例句：

• This huge fresco is extremely clear and just like nature itself.It is very harmonious.这一巨幅壁画，清晰有致且又浑然天成，十分和谐。
• So it is quite necessary to study the influence of visual thinking over fresco.因此，研究视觉思维对壁画的影响和作用是十分必要的。

3 chapel   

n.小教堂，殡仪馆

参考例句：

• The nimble hero,skipped into a chapel that stood near.敏捷的英雄跳进近旁的一座小教堂里。
• She was on the peak that Sunday afternoon when she played in chapel.那个星期天的下午，她在小教堂的演出，可以说是登峰造极。

4 infinitely   

adv.无限地，无穷地

参考例句：

• There is an infinitely bright future ahead of us.我们有无限光明的前途。
• The universe is infinitely large.宇宙是无限大的。

5 stationary   

adj.固定的，静止不动的

参考例句：

• A stationary object is easy to be aimed at.一个静止不动的物体是容易瞄准的。
• Wait until the bus is stationary before you get off.你要等公共汽车停稳了再下车。

6 artery   

n.干线，要道；动脉

参考例句：

• We couldn't feel the changes in the blood pressure within the artery.我们无法感觉到动脉血管内血压的变化。
• The aorta is the largest artery in the body.主动脉是人体中的最大动脉。

7 gland   

n.腺体，(机)密封压盖，填料盖

参考例句：

• This is a snake's poison gland.这就是蛇的毒腺。
• Her mother has an underactive adrenal gland.她的母亲肾上腺机能不全。

8 synapses   

n.（神经元的）突触( synapse的名词复数 )；染色体结合( synapsis的名词复数 )；联会；突触；（神经元的）触处

参考例句：

• Nerve cells communicate with one another at the synapses, where their membranes almost touch. 神经细胞在突触部位彼此沟通，在这里它们的膜几乎接触到一起了。 来自辞典例句
• Glutamatergic synapses are common excitatory chemical connections in mammalian central nervous system. 谷氨酸性突触是哺乳动物神经系统的主要兴奋性突触。 来自互联网

9 dissection   

n.分析；解剖

参考例句：

• A dissection of your argument shows several inconsistencies.对你论点作仔细分析后发现一些前后矛盾之处。
• Researchers need a growing supply of corpses for dissection.研究人员需要更多的供解剖用的尸体。

10 anatomy   

n.解剖学，解剖；功能，结构，组织

参考例句：

• He found out a great deal about the anatomy of animals.在动物解剖学方面，他有过许多发现。
• The hurricane's anatomy was powerful and complex.对飓风的剖析是一项庞大而复杂的工作。

11 entirely   

ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地

参考例句：

• The fire was entirely caused by their neglect of duty. 那场火灾完全是由于他们失职而引起的。
• His life was entirely given up to the educational work. 他的一生统统献给了教育工作。

12 lobe   

n.耳垂，（肺，肝等的）叶

参考例句：

• Tiny electrical sensors are placed on your scalp and on each ear lobe.小电器传感器放置在您的头皮和对每个耳垂。
• The frontal lobe of the brain is responsible for controlling movement.大脑前叶的功能是控制行动。

13 platonic   

adj.精神的；柏拉图（哲学）的

参考例句：

• Their friendship is based on platonic love.他们的友情是基于柏拉图式的爱情。
• Can Platonic love really exist in real life?柏拉图式的爱情，在现实世界里到底可能吗？

14 renaissance   

n.复活，复兴，文艺复兴

参考例句：

• The Renaissance was an epoch of unparalleled cultural achievement.文艺复兴是一个文化上取得空前成就的时代。
• The theme of the conference is renaissance Europe.大会的主题是文艺复兴时期的欧洲。

15 corruption   

n.腐败，堕落，贪污

参考例句：

• The people asked the government to hit out against corruption and theft.人民要求政府严惩贪污盗窃。
• The old man reviled against corruption.那老人痛斥了贪污舞弊。

16 Christian   

adj.基督教徒的；n.基督教徒

参考例句：

• They always addressed each other by their Christian name.他们总是以教名互相称呼。
• His mother is a sincere Christian.他母亲是个虔诚的基督教徒。

17 illustrates   

给…加插图( illustrate的第三人称单数 )； 说明； 表明； （用示例、图画等）说明

参考例句：

• This historical novel illustrates the breaking up of feudal society in microcosm. 这部历史小说是走向崩溃的封建社会的缩影。
• Alfred Adler, a famous doctor, had an experience which illustrates this. 阿尔弗莱德 - 阿德勒是一位著名的医生，他有过可以说明这点的经历。 来自中级百科部分

18 literally   

adv.照字面意义，逐字地；确实

参考例句：

• He translated the passage literally.他逐字逐句地翻译这段文字。
• Sometimes she would not sit down till she was literally faint.有时候，她不走到真正要昏厥了，决不肯坐下来。

19 subscribe   

vi.(to)订阅，订购；同意；vt.捐助，赞助

参考例句：

• I heartily subscribe to that sentiment.我十分赞同那个观点。
• The magazine is trying to get more readers to subscribe.该杂志正大力发展新订户。