The Ancestors of Christ: Rehoboam and Abijah

This lunette depicts Rehoboam and Abijah from the genealogy of Christ, part of the extensive series of ancestors Michelangelo painted in the lunettes of the Sistine Chapel. Rehoboam, the son of Solomon who precipitated the division of Israel into two kingdoms, and his son Abijah are shown in the contemplative, domestic poses that characterize the ancestor series. These lunette figures represent ordinary humanity awaiting redemption, contrasting with the heroic prophets and sibyls on the ceiling above. Painted between 1511 and 1512, they show Michelangelo's most spontaneous and economical painting technique.

The figures are rendered with remarkable economy of means, using broad, fluid brushstrokes that suggest form through minimal modeling. The iridescent color scheme — with unexpected combinations of orange, green, and violet — creates a chromatic brilliance that anticipates Mannerist painting. The speed of execution is evident in the confident, almost sketch-like handling that contrasts with the more labored technique of the central ceiling panels.