Michelangelo likely used a famous mathematical ratio to paint "The Creation of Adam" and other frescoes on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel, a recently published study claims.
The article published this month in the journal Clinical Anatomy states that the Renaissance artist may have employed the so-called "golden ratio" -- a proportion often associated with physical efficiency and that frequently occurs in nature -- to create the 16th century masterpiece.
Like many artists of his period, Michelangelo was fascinated by human anatomy and likely studied cadavers to enhance his knowledge of the human form.
For the study, researchers and scholars from Brazil used digital software to analyze "The Creation of Adam," which was commissioned by Pope Julius II and is located at the Vatican.