Incomplete Michelangelo Is ‘Finished’ On A Phone And Shown At National Gallery
Image courtesy of Philip Colbert / OnePlus
Michelangelo’s Manchester Madonna is an intriguing but unfinished masterpiece that offers a glimpse into the artistic genius of the Renaissance master. This painting, also known as the Virgin and Child with St John and Angels, captures a tender moment between the Virgin Mary and the infant Jesus, with the young St John the Baptist and a pair of angels in the background. While the faces of the central figures are delicately rendered with Michelangelo’s signature attention to detail, much of the canvas remains incomplete, with the background and some of the surrounding figures left in varying degrees of rough sketches and underpainting.
Until now. Iconic pop artist Philip Colbert was tasked by smartphone manufacturer OnePlus with the intimidating challenge of tying up loose ends of a Michelangelo work while bringing a modern twist to a piece that has remained incomplete for half a millennium. Using its flagship foldable, the OnePlus Open, Colbert—a London-based artist renowned for his vibrant lobster motifs—has bridged the gap between the Renaissance and the digital age.
Image courtesy of Philip Colbert / OnePlus
Primary colors and emojis turn the Manchester Madonna into a modern-day collage, while variants of Colbert’s cartoon lobster persona interact with the biblical characters in the painting. By infusing Michelangelo’s historic work with contemporary flair, Colbert reimagines the artwork for today’s audience. This blend of classic art and modern technology was showcased in a dynamic projection adjacent to the original piece at the National Gallery in London.
Image courtesy of Philip Colbert / OnePlus
Colbert credits the OnePlus Open, with its multitasking capabilities and dual-screen feature, for enabling him to finish what Michelangelo started from various settings beyond his studio. He used the phone’s triple split-screen to simultaneously view the original Manchester Madonna, his ongoing artwork, and his notes, and the smart art tool gave him the flexibility to work on the piece wherever he was, be it at home or on car and plane rides.
OnePlus Open x Philip Colbert @lobsteropolis🦞
— OnePlus Europe (@OnePlus_Europe) November 16, 2023
Discover how the OnePlus Open helps you be creative and work from anywhere.#comingsoon #NeverSettle pic.twitter.com/eDsmyEuqoi
This unique project emerges against the backdrop of a European-wide study by OnePlus, revealing that 79% of Brits feel hindered from reaching their full potential due to time constraints and productivity issues. The OnePlus Open supposedly “closes the loop” on unfinished work by providing the tools for multitasking and completing tasks efficiently.
“It’s a true honor to breathe new life into Michelangelo’s iconic Manchester Madonna using the OnePlus Open,” Colbert comments. “This collaboration represents the convergence of art, technology, history… Completing this masterpiece has been an extraordinary journey, made possible by the capabilities of the OnePlus Open—essentially a studio in my pocket, allowing me to complete the artwork anywhere at any time.”
Celina Shi, chief marketing officer at OnePlus in Europe, echoes these sentiments, praising Colbert for rejuvenating the Manchester Madonna through his imaginative lens.
“We’re immensely proud to have contributed to the completion of Michelangelo’s Manchester Madonna in collaboration with Philip Colbert. Philip’s trademark playful and exuberant perspective breathes new life and unleashes the potential of the original artwork.”
[via Philip Colbert / OnePlus, images courtesy]
This article was crafted with assistance from an AI engine, and has been manually reviewed & edited.
