Who painted Salmon, Boaz, Obed?

Salmon, Boaz, Obed was painted by Michelangelo in 1511.

Where can I see Salmon, Boaz, Obed?

Salmon, Boaz, Obed is held by Vatican Museums.

What movement is Salmon, Boaz, Obed?

Salmon, Boaz, Obed is associated with High Renaissance.

Artwork

Salmon, Boaz, Obed

Michelangelo , 1511

Salmon, Boaz, Obed is a fresco painting by the High Renaissance artist Michelangelo. It dates from 1511 and is held in the collection of the Vatican Museums. Created in 1511, this fresco forms part of the biblical genealogy series that adorns the walls of the Sistine Chapel in the Vatican.

About this work

Overview

Created in 1511, this fresco forms part of the biblical genealogy series that adorns the walls of the Sistine Chapel in the Vatican. Executed during the High Renaissance, it presents three figures from the ancestral line leading to King David, a lineage that Christian tradition links to the birth of Christ.

Subject & Meaning

The composition features a woman in an orange garment with a blue shawl holding an infant, a male figure in a yellow tunic and red leggings leaning forward with a staff, and a central inscription naming the three individuals. The scene visualizes a moment in the genealogical record, emphasizing continuity of the sacred lineage.

Technique & Style

Painted as a true fresco, the pigments were applied to freshly laid wet plaster, allowing the colors to become integral to the wall surface. Michelangelo’s handling of the medium yields muted, earthy tones and a soft modeling of flesh, while the bold lettering of the inscription provides a contrasting visual focal point.

History & Provenance

The work was produced while Michelangelo was actively engaged in Rome, contributing to the extensive decorative program of the Sistine Chapel. Since its completion, the fresco has remained in situ, forming part of the Vatican Museums’ permanent collection and accessible to scholars and visitors alike.

Context

The genealogical frescoes were intended to link Old Testament figures to the New Testament narrative, reinforcing theological continuity. Michelangelo’s approach reflects his study of classical sculpture and earlier Renaissance models, integrating idealized human forms within a sacred program.

Artist & collection

Artist

Michelangelo

Michelangelo di Lodovico Buonarroti Simoni (6 March 1475 – 18 February 1564), known mononymously as Michelangelo, was an Italian sculptor, painter, architect, and poet of the High Renaissance.