The following periodicals and data are located at the Fogg Art Museum Library, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA:

Author: Rzepinska, Maria
Title: The Divine Wisdom of Michelangelo in The creation of Adam.
In: Artibus et historiae 1994, v. 15, no. 29, p. 181-187, ISSN 0391-9064.
Summary: Disputing earlier interpretations of the female figure within God’s left arm in the Creation of Adam (Rome, Vatican, Sistine Chapel) in Neo- platonic terms as Eve (Tolnay) or in cabalistic terms as Shekkina (Schuyler), argues that the figure represents Sophia or Divine Wisdom, and that Michelangelo’s source was the Bible, specifically Proverbs 8:22-31.

Maria Rzepinska in her article cited above states that “Michelangelo was deeply religious and familiar with the Scriptures ----it is most unlikely that Michelangelo would have drawn his inspiration for the creation scenes from any source other than the Bible---”. She goes on to quote Proverbs VIII: 22-31 as the source document for Michelangelo’s inclusion of Divine Wisdom in the Creation of Adam painting.

Author: Hall, Marcia
Title: “Who’s who in Michelangelo’s Creation of Adam” continued
In: Art Bulletin 1993, v. 75, no. 2, June, p. 340-344, ISSN 0004-3079.
Summary: Hall cites Augustine (City of God, 11, 4) and Proverbs 8: 27 in support of her argument that the female figure within the arm of God in the Creation of Adam (Rome, Vatican, Sistine Chapel) represents Divine Wisdom or Sapienta, and not Eve, as proposed by Leo Steinberg (Art Bulletin, 1992, 74 no 4 (Dec) p. 552-566). Steinberg defends his thesis, arguing that Michelangelo’s textural sources were Genesis 1 & 2, which he was concerned to reconcile.

There are clearly articulated Biblical passages describing Divine Wisdom ( or Sophia ) with the Father at Creation (Proverbs VIII: 22-31, Proverbs III: 19, Wisdom IX: 9.) I am not aware of any Biblical passages that describe Eve as pre existing Adam in some preview format.

Evan Randolph’s comments:
It is my belief that in his famous painting The Creation of Adam ( Sistine Chapel, Vatican, Rome ), Michelangelo painted the beautiful Divine Wisdom ( or Sophia ) within God’s left arm. The reader may wish to check out the SistineChapel web site and see for yourself the panels: The Creation of Adam, The Creation of Eve, and Original Sin. I observe that:

The beautiful, blond, slender young lady with the Father in The Creation of Adam bears little physical resemblance to the fuller figured Eve shown in The Creation of Eve, or of the fuller figured Eve in Original Sin. Therefore, Eve and the female with the Father (in The Creation of Adam) are two entirely different women.
Additionally, the emotional attachment these two women have with the Father differs dramatically. In The Creation of Adam, the female with the Father physically touches and is touched by the Father. God’s arm protectively encircles her shoulders and draws her forward, including her in his action, while her hand rests tenderly over his left forearm . A worshipping angel clings to her leg. This scene is entirely consistent with Septuagint, Prov. VIII: 30: “I ( Sophia ) was that wherein he took delight; and daily I rejoiced in his presence continually.”
In contrast, The Creation of Eve shows a subservient Eve painfully pleading with a stern authoritarian Father. As opposed to the Creation of Adam scene, none of the physical touching or emotional closeness exists.
Both physical and emotional contrasts suggest that the female figure under God’s arm in The Creation of Adam and the representations of Eve show two different women with whom the Father has an entirely different relationhip.
See for youself:

Divine Wisdom

Divine Wisdom ( Sophia ) with the Father”- painting by Michelangelo-
The Creation of Adam, Sistine Chapel, Vatican, Rome

The Sistine Chapel, the Art, the History, and the Restoration, Harmony Books, NY, page 143.

Eve

Painted by Michelangelo-Original Sin, Sistine Chapel,Vatican, Rome

Michelangelo the Painter, Harry N. Abrams, Inc.,Publishers, New York, Plate IX

Eve

Painted by
Michelangelo-The Creation of Eve, Sistine Chapel, Vatican, Rome

Michelangelo the Painter, Harry N. Abrams, Inc.,Publishers, New York, Plate XI


It is my observation that all the many female faces painted by Michelangelo on the Sistine Chapel ceiling differ from his painting of Divine Wisdom with the Father except for one other.
The painting of the female with Joseph in the Ancestors of Christ series is virtually the same face. Is it possible that Michelangelo wished to make the statement that Divine Wisdom / Holy Spirit was the Divine Mother of Jesus? If so, this ties into my later findings on this website. Do you agree that this is the same face?

Divine Wisdom

Divine Wisdom ( Sophia ) with the Father”- painting by Michelangelo-
The Creation of Adam, Sistine Chapel, Vatican, Rome

The Sistine Chapel, The Art, the History, and the Restoration, Harmony Books, NY, page 143

Divine Mother of Christ

Ancestors of Christ, Joseph lunette-painted by Michelangelo-Sistine Chapel, Vatican, Rome

The Sistine Chapel, The Art, the History, and the Restoration, Harmony Books, NY, page 230

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