Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel ceiling contains 20 nude male figures known as ignudi.
The ignudi are arranged in groups of four around the nine central scenes from Genesis. They occupy the architectural illusion separating the main panels and are not part of the biblical narrative in the same direct way as the prophets, sibyls, and Genesis figures.
Their meaning remains debated. Some scholars view them as decorative figures derived from classical art, while others connect them with theological or symbolic ideas. Michelangelo varied their poses, gestures, and ornaments rather than repeating one standard design.
The ignudi are sometimes confused with the larger groups of biblical and mythological figures elsewhere on the ceiling. The number 20 applies specifically to these nude male figures framing the central Genesis panels.