7 Facts About Michelangelo's Sistine Chapel Ceiling 7 Facts About Michelangelo's Sistine Chapel Ceiling Everything You Wanted to Know About Michelangelo's Famous Frescoes Paintings Javier Sánchez / Getty Images Share By Shelley Esaak Michelangelo's Sistine Chapel ceiling is one of the most influential artworks of all time and a foundational work of Renaissance Art. Painted directly on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel in the Vatican, the masterpiece depicts key scenes from the Book of Genesis. The complex narratives and skillfully painted human figures stunned viewers when the painting was first unveiled to the public in 1512 and continues to impress the thousands of pilgrims and tourists from around the world who visit the Chapel every day. Below are seven essential facts about the Sistine Chapel ceiling and its creation. 1. The Paintings Were Commissioned by Pope Julius II In 1508, Pope Julius II (also known as Giulio II and "Il papa terribile"), asked Michelangelo to paint Sistine Chapel's ceiling. Julius was determined that Rome should be rebuilt to its former glory, and had embarked on a vigorous campaign achieve the ambitious task.

He felt that such artistic splendor would not only add luster to his own name, but also serve to supersede anything that Pope Alexander VI (a Borgia, and Julius' rival) had accomplished. continue reading below our video 4 Tips for Improving Test Performance 2. Michelangelo Painted Over 5,000 Square Feet of Frescoes The ceiling measures about 40 meters (131 feet) long by 13 meters (43 feet) wide. Although these numbers are rounded, they demonstrate the enormous scale of this nontraditional canvas. In fact, Michelangelo painted well over 5,000 square feet of frescoes. 3. The Panels Depict More Than Just Scenes From the Book of Genesis The ceilings well-known central panels depict scenes from the Book of Genesis , from the Creation to the Fall to shortly after Noah's deluge. Adjacent to each of these scenes on either side, however, are immense portraits of prophets and sibyls who foretold the coming of the Messiah. Along the bottoms of these run spandrels and lunettes containing the ancestors of Jesus and stories of tragedy in ancient Israel. Scattered throughout are smaller figures, cherubs and ignudi (nudes).

All told, there are more than 300 painted figures on the ceiling. 4. Michelangelo Was A Sculptor, Not A Painter Michelangelo thought of himself as a sculptor and preferred working with marble to almost any other material. Prior to the ceiling frescoes , the only painting he'd done was during his brief stint as a student in Ghirlandaio's workshop. Julius, however, was adamant that Michelangelo — and no other — should paint the Chapel's ceiling. To convince him, Julius offered as a reward to Michelangelo the wildly lucrative commission of sculpting 40 massive figures for his tomb, a project that appealed much more to Michelangelo given his artistic style. 5. The Paintings Took Four Years to Finish It took Michelangelo a little over four years, from July of 1508 to October of 1512, to finish the paintings. Michelangelo had never painted frescoes before and was learning the craft as he worked. What's more, he chose to work in buon fresco, the most difficult method, and one normally reserved for true masters.

He also had to learn some wickedly hard techniques in perspective, namely painting figures on curved surfaces that appear "correct" when viewed from nearly 60 feet below. The work suffered numerous other setbacks, including mold and miserable, damp weather that disallowed plaster curing. The project was further stalled when Julius left to wage war and again when he fell ill. The ceiling project, and any hope Michelangelo had of being paid, were frequently in jeopardy while Julius was absent or near death. 6. Michelangelo Didn't Really Paint Lying Down Although the classic film The Agony and the Ecstacy, depicts Michelangelo (played by Charlton Heston) painting the frescoes on his back, the real Michelangelo didn't work in this position. Instead, he conceived and had constructed a unique scaffolding system sturdy enough to hold workers and materials and high enough that Mass could still be celebrated below. The scaffolding curved at its top, mimicking the curvature of the ceiling's vault. Michelangelo often had to bend backward and paint over his head — an awkward position that caused permanent damage to his vision. 7. Michelangelo Had Assistants Michelangelo gets, and deserves, credit for the entire project. The complete design was his.

The sketches and cartoons for the frescoes were all of his hand, and he executed the vast bulk of the actual painting by himself. However, the vision of Michelangelo toiling away, a solitary figure in a vacant chapel, isn't entirely accurate. He needed many assistants if only to mix his paints, scramble up and down ladders, and prepare the day's plaster (a nasty business). Occasionally, a talented assistant might be entrusted with a patch of sky, a bit of landscape, or a figure so small and minor it is barely discernable from below. All of these were worked from his cartoons, however, and the temperamental Michelangelo hired and fired these assistants on such a regular basis that none of them could claim credit for any part of the ceiling. 7 Things You May Not Know About the Sistine Chapel - History in the Headlines 7 Things You May Not Know About the Sistine Chapel November 1, 2012 By Jennie Cohen Share What does it mean to be a "Renaissance Man"? Get the history of the Renaissance as told by musician and artist Jeffrey Lewis.

Share this: 7 Things You May Not Know About the Sistine Chapel Author 7 Things You May Not Know About the Sistine Chapel URL Google On November 1, 1512, the majestic ceiling frescoes adorning Rome’s Sistine Chapel were unveiled to the public. Painted by a rising young sculptor named Michelangelo, they remain one of the Italian Renaissance’s most iconic masterpieces, with 5 million neck-craning tourists peering at their beauty each year. Below, check out seven surprising facts about the famous ceiling and the artist who painted it. 1. Michelangelo wanted nothing to do with the Sistine Chapel’s ceiling. In 1508, 33-year-old Michelangelo was hard at work on Pope Julius II’s marble tomb, a relatively obscure piece now located in Rome’s San Pietro in Vincoli church. When Julius asked the esteemed artist to switch gears and decorate the Sistine Chapel’s ceiling, Michelangelo balked. For one thing, he considered himself a sculptor rather than a painter, and he had no experience whatsoever with frescoes. He also had his heart set on finishing the tomb, even as funding for the project dwindled.

Nevertheless, Michelangelo reluctantly accepted the commission, spending four years of his life perched on scaffolding with his brush in hand. He would return intermittently to Julius’ monumental tomb over the next few decades. The Sistine Chapel ceiling’s most famous panel, entitled “The Creation of Adam.” 2. Contrary to popular belief, Michelangelo painted the Sistine Chapel in a standing position. When they picture Michelangelo creating his legendary frescoes, most people assume he was lying down. But in fact, the artist and his assistants used wooden scaffolds that allowed them to stand upright and reach above their heads. Michelangelo himself designed the unique system of platforms, which were attached to the walls with brackets. The impression that Michelangelo painted on his back might come from the 1965 film “The Agony and the Ecstasy,” in which Charlton Heston portrayed the genius behind the Sistine Chapel’s ceiling. Sections of the Sistine Chapel’s ceiling. 3. Working on the Sistine Chapel was so unpleasant that Michelangelo wrote a poem about his misery. In 1509, an increasingly uncomfortable Michelangelo described the physical strain of the Sistine Chapel project to his friend Giovanni da Pistoia.

“I’ve already grown a goiter from this torture,” he wrote in a poem that was surely somewhat tongue-in-cheek. He went on to complain that his “stomach’s squashed under my chin,” that his “face makes a fine floor for droppings,” that his “skin hangs loose below me” and that his “spine’s all knotted from folding myself over.” He ended with an affirmation that he shouldn’t have changed his day job: “I am not in the right place—I am not a painter.” 4. Michelangelo’s masterpiece has proven highly resilient. The Sistine Chapel’s frescoed ceiling has held up remarkably well in the five centuries since its completion. Only one small component is missing: part of the sky in the panel depicting Noah’s escape from the great biblical flood. The section of painted plaster fell to the floor and shattered following an explosion at a nearby gunpowder depot in 1797. Despite the ceiling’s apparent hardiness, experts worry that foot traffic from the millions of people who visit the Sistine Chapel each year continues to pose a serious threat. 5.

Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel art was touched up—and stripped down—in the 1980s and 1990s. Between 1980 and 1999, experts restored selected artwork in the Sistine Chapel, including Michelangelo’s ceiling and his famed fresco known as “The Last Judgment,” which he created in his later years. Specialists meticulously dissolved layers of grime, soot and deposits, substantially brightening the colors of the centuries-old paintings. The restoration also undid the work of Pope Pius IV, who ordered the placement of fig leaves and loincloths on Michelangelo’s nudes during the 1560s. 6. The Sistine Chapel ceiling’s most famous panel might depict a human brain. In the section entitled “The Creation of Adam,” figures representing God and Adam reach for each other with their arms outstretched. Their almost-touching fingers are one of the world’s most recognizable and widely replicated images. Some theorists think the scene also contains the unmistakable outline of a human brain, formed by the angels and robes surrounding God.

According to Frank Lynn Meshberger, a doctor who pioneered this hypothesis, Michelangelo meant to evoke God’s bestowal of intellegence on the first human. 7. New popes are elected in the Sistine Chapel. Built in the 1470s under Pope Sixtus IV, from whom it takes its name, the Sistine Chapel is more than just Vatican City’s most popular tourist destination. In fact, it serves a crucial religious function. Beginning in 1492, the simple brick building has hosted numerous papal conclaves, during which cardinals gather to vote on a new pope. A special chimney in the roof of the chapel broadcasts the conclave’s results, with white smoke indicating the election of a pope and black smoke signaling that no candidate has yet received a two-thirds majority. Tags The Sistine Chapel Ceiling | Michelangelo Gallery Michelangelo • Paintings • The Sistine Chapel The Sistine Chapel Ceiling In 1508, Michelangelo was summoned to Rome by Pope Julius II. He first thought that he would only be working on the pope’s tomb, but was also given the job of painting figures of the twelve apostles against a starry sky on the Sistine Chapel ceiling.

Michelangelo had been given this job through a recommendation from Donato Bramante, then the chief architect of St Peter’s Basilica. Bramante hoped that by suggesting a sculptor to paint a fresco, Michelangelo would present “less creditable work than Raphael of Urbino, to whom, out of hatred for Michelangelo, they gave every support.” Originally, since he considered himself a sculptor rather than a painter, Michelangelo attempted to turn down the job, but was unsuccessful. Since he now had no choice, he lobbied for a far more complex design. As a result, upon completion, the ceiling contained over 300 figures, as opposed to just the twelve apostles as was originally intended. In May of 1508, Michelangelo began making plans for the layout of the ceiling, though he did not begin painting until the fall. Recognizing the scale of this enormous undertaking, he called on a number of laborers and assistants to aid him. However, dissatisfied with the quality of their work, he fired everyone that he had recruited and removed what they had painted, beginning the whole work anew on his own.

While working on it he refused to show anyone his work before it was finished, although Bramante would sneak in several friends, including Raphael, to see it. He was even reluctant to show it to the pope, who would actually climb the scaffolding to see how the work was coming along. The pope, impatient, pressured Michelangelo to finish quicker, and as a result he was forced to uncover his work in August of 1511 before its true completion in 1512. The project, which in the end took four years to complete, caused a great deal of physical and emotional pain for Michelangelo, who remarked, “After four tortured years, more than 400 over life-sized figures, I felt as old and as weary as Jeremiah. I was only 37, yet friends did not recognize the old man I had become.” The Sistine chapel contains many biblical scenes, notably the nine scenes from the Book of Genesis, including the Creation, the creation and downfall of Adam and Eve, and three stories from the life of Noah.

Michelangelo's Painting of the Sistine Chapel Ceiling – ItalianRenaissance.org Michelangelo’s Painting of the Sistine Chapel Ceiling Michelangelo, Sistine Chapel Ceiling, 1508-1512, fresco The Sistine Chapel is one of the most famous painted interior spaces in the world, and virtually all of this fame comes from the breathtaking painting of its ceiling from about 1508-1512. The chapel was built in 1479 under the direction of Pope Sixtus IV, who gave it his name (“Sistine” derives from “Sixtus”). The location of the building is very close to St. Peter’s Basilica and the Belvedere Courtyard in the Vatican. One of the functions of the space was to serve as the gathering place for cardinals of the Catholic Church to gather in order to elect a new pope. Even today, it is used for this purpose, including in the recent election of Pope Francis in March 2013. Sistine Chapel as it appeared before Michelangelo’s ceiling fresco Originally, the Sistine Chapel’s vaulted ceiling was painted blue and covered with golden stars.

The walls were adorned with frescoes by different artists, such as Pietro Perugino, who painted Christ delivering the keys to St. Peter there in 1482. In 1508, Pope Julius II (reigned 1503-1513) hired Michelangelo to paint the ceiling of the chapel, rather than leaving it appear as it had. Before this time, Michelangelo had gained fame through his work as a sculptor, working on such great works as the Pieta and David . He was not, however, highly esteemed for his work with the brush. According to Vasari, the reason why Julius gave such a lofty task to Michelangelo was because of the instigation of two artistic rivals of his, the painter Raphael and the architect Bramante. Vasari says that the two hoped that Michelangelo would fall flat, since he was less accustomed to painting than he was to sculpting, or alternatively he would grow so aggravated with the Julius that he would want to depart from Rome altogether. Michelangelo, Noah and the Flood, Sistine Chapel Ceiling Rather than falling on his face, however, Michelangelo rose to the task to create one of the masterpieces of Western art.

The ceiling program, which was probably formulated with the help of a theologian from the Vatican, is centered around several scenes from the Old Testament beginning with the Creation of the World and ending at the story of Noah and the Flood. The paintings are oriented so that to view them right-side-up, the viewer must be facing the altar on the far side of the altar wall. The sequence begins with Creation, above the altar, and progresses toward the entrance-side of the chapel on the other side of the room. Michelangelo began painting in 1508 and he continued until 1512. He started out by painting the Noah fresco (entrance side of chapel), but once he completed this scene he removed the scaffolding and took in what he had completed. Realizing that the figures were too small to serve their purpose on the ceiling, he decided to adopt larger figures in his subsequent frescoed scenes. Thus, as the paintings moved toward the altar side of the chapel, the figures are larger as well as more expressive of movement. Two of the most important scenes on the ceiling are his frescoes of the Creation of Adam and the Fall of Adam and Eve/Expulsion from the Garden.

In order to frame the central Old Testament scenes, Michelangelo painted a fictive architectural molding and supporting statues down the length of the chapel. These were painted in grisaille (greyish/monochromatic coloring), which gave them the appearance of concrete fixtures. Beneath the fictive architecture are more key sets of figures painted as part of the ceiling program. These figures are located in the triangles above the arched windows, the the larger seated figures between the triangles. The first group include Old Testament people such as David, Josiah, and Jesse – all of whom were believed to be part of Christ’s human ancestry. They complemented the portraits of the popes that were painted further down on the walls, since the popes served as the Vicar of Christ. Thus, connections to Christ – both before and after – are embodied in these paintings which begin on the ceiling and continue to the walls. The figures between the triangles include two different types of figures – Old Testament prophets and pagan sibyls. Humanists of the Renaissance would have been familiar with the role of sibyls in the ancient world, who foretold the coming of a savior.

For Christians of the sixteenth century, this pagan prophesy was interpreted as being fulfilled in the arrival of Christ on earth. Both prophets from the Old Testament and classical culture therefore prophesied the same coming Messiah and are depicted here. One of these sibyls, the Libyan Sibyl, is particularly notable for her sculpturesque form. She sits on a garment placed atop a seat and twists her body to close the book. Her weight is placed on her toes and she looks over her shoulder to below her, toward the direction of the altar in the chapel. Michelangelo has made the sibyl respond to the environment in which she was placed. It has been said that when Michelangelo painted, he was essentially painting sculpture on his surfaces. This is clearly the case in the Sistine Chapel ceiling, where he painted monumental figures that embody both strength and beauty. Share this: should be noted that after the death of Michelangelo, the painter Daniele da Volterra was commissioned to cover some nudity in the frescoes. Few of these changes were elimininate during the restoration completed in 1994.

Sistine Chapel: Facts, History & Visitor Information Sistine Chapel: Facts, History & Visitor Information By Jessie Szalay, LiveScience Contributor | October 30, 2013 12:32am ET MORE 'The Creation of Adam' is one of the nine ceiling panels in the Sistine Chapel depicting scenes from the book of Genesis. The Sistine Chapel is a large chapel in the Vatican City. It is renowned for its Renaissance art, especially the ceiling painted by Michelangelo, and attracts more than 5 million visitors each year. History The Sistine Chapel stands on the foundation of an older chapel called the Capella Magna. In 1477, Pope Sixtus IV instigated a rebuilding of the chapel, which was then named for him. The chapel is 40.23 meters long, 13.40 meters wide, and 20.70 meters high (about 132 by 44 by 68 feet) — reputedly, the dimensions of Solomon’s temple in Jerusalem, which was destroyed in A.D. 70. The chapel’s exterior is simple and unassuming, giving little hint to the splendid decoration inside.

Pope Sixtus IV commissioned celebrated painters, including Botticelli and Rosselli, to decorate the chapel. At this point, the Sistine Chapel’s ceiling was painted like a simple blue sky with stars. In 1503, a new pope, Julius II, decided to change some of the Sistine Chapel's decoration. He commanded artist Michelangelo to do it. Michelangelo balked, because he considered himself a sculptor, not a painter, and he was hard at work sculpting the king’s tomb. But Pope Julius insisted, and Michelangelo began work on his famous frescoed ceiling in 1508. He worked for four years. It was so physically taxing that it permanently damaged his eyesight. More than 20 years later, Pope Clement VII commissioned Michelangelo to paint the giant fresco "The Last Judgment" behind the altar. The artist, then in his 60s, painted it from 1536 to 1541.

Michelangelo’s paintings Ceiling At the highest part of the ceiling, Michelangelo depicted nine scenes from Genesis, including "The Separation of Light From Darkness" at the altar end of the chapel to "The Drunkenness of Noah" at the other end. The most famous panels are "The Creation of Adam" and "The Fall of Man and the Expulsion from Paradise." Images of prophets and pagan sibyls surround the panels, and twisting (and originally controversial) male nudes decorate the corners. Michelangelo painted a fresco titled 'The Last Judgment' on the wall behind the altar in the Sistine Chapel. Credit: byggam.se Shutterstock The Last Judgment This fresco depicts the second coming of Christ, who is judging all mankind. The blessed are on the right and heading to heaven, while the damned are on the left and being sent to hell and tortured by demons. Major Biblical and Catholic characters appear in the scene, including Eve and several saints. Secret images In 1990, some physicians suggestedthat the flying-seat shape and figure of God in "The Creation of Adam" makes up an anatomically correct image of the human brain.

In 2010, it was asserted that "The Separation of Light From Darkness" panel contains a human brain stem . Other theorists have suggested that Michelangelo depicted kidney imagery on the ceiling. As a sculptor, Michelangelo was fascinated by the human form. He studied cadavers to get a better sense of anatomy, and would have been familiar with the human brain. Painting the Sistine Chapel was an exhausting task, and Michelangelo’s relationship with the Catholic Church became strained doing it. Perhaps to depict his unhappiness, he hid two miserable-looking self-portraits in "The Last Judgment."He painted his deceased face on Holofernes’ severed head and his ghoulish visage on Saint Bartholomew’s flayed skin. Restoration efforts A serious restoration of the Sistine Chapel began in 1980. Restorers spent 14 years reattaching fresco and cleaning it. They also removed some of the “modesty drapes” that had been added to Michelangelo’s work. The restoration was extremely controversial. Some critics claim that the restoration removed an intentional second layer of paint, and that Michelangelo had intentionally used darker, more shadowy hues to give the figures depth.

Others say that the restoration was essential for keeping the masterpiece intact and reviving the brilliancy of Michelangelo’s palette. Papal use The chapel is more than an artistic masterpiece; it is a place of crucial religious activity. Since 1492, the chapel has been the site where the College of Cardinals gathers to elect a new pope. The chapel has a special chimney that is used to broadcast the cardinals’ voting status. White smoke indicates that a new pope has been elected, while black smoke signals that no candidate has received a two-thirds majority. An aerial view of the Sistine Chapel. Sistine Chapel in Vatican City– Vatican 3D Virtual Tours The Sistine Chapel 3D Site of the Papal Conclave and Michelangelo’s famous frescoes Visit the site of the Papal Conclave and Michelangelo’s famous ceiling and Last Judgment painting from home! Take a 3D virtual tour of the Sistine Chapel in Vatican City as never seen before! Follow the guided tour or navigate yourself and explore one of the holiest sites in Catholicism.

Explore & learn about the story of the Sistine Chapel – it’s function as the Papal Conclave where the Pope s elected and the incredible artwork which adorns the Sistine Chapel: The Conclave —Where the College of Cardinals adjourns and elects the new pope. The Last Judgment —Michelangelo’s most famous frescoes which depicts the apocalypse and judgment by God and Jesus Christ. The Sistine Chapel ceiling and walls renowned frescoes—Depicting biblical stories of Jesus, Moses and the creation. Walk around freely, learn and experience this site which is fundamental in human history, art, and faith. Sistine Chapel in Vatican City Background & History There is no doubt that Sistine Chapel is the most known chapel in the entire Vatican City. The chapel is well known for its architecture and the numerous decorations it bears. This chapel was designed and built by architects Michelangelo, Pietro Perugino, Sandro Botticelli, Pinturicchio, among others. Ever since its establishment on the 15th August 1483 by Pope Sixtus IV, the Sistine Chapel has continued to be used for both religious and official papal activities.

The construction of the Sistine Chapel begun in 1473 and was completed and opened to the public later on. Today, the Sistine Chapel is the place of the Papal Conclave - the process of electing a new Pope The Sistine Chapel serves as the Papal conclave where the new pope is elected. During the election of a new Pope, a chimney is installed on the roof of the Sistine Chapel, through which smoke arises as a signal. When black smoke rises from the chimney, it signals that a new Pope has been elected by the College of Cardinals. White smoke is created by burning the white ballot papers of the Conclave and black smoke is achieved by burning the Papal ballots with a substance that gives the smoke its black color. Once a new Pope has been elected, he presents himself to the public gathered at St. Peter’s Square by coming out on to the famous Vatican Papal porch. The new Pope is then give his new name. The Papal election and post-election activities all take place in the Sistine Chapel – art and architecture The Sistine Chapel and the Vatican in general, are great representations and treasurers of high and renowned art and architecture from the Renaissance period.

Pope Julius II commissioned Michelangelo to paint the Sistine Chapel’s ceiling. Michelangelo painted the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel between 1508 and 1512. Michelangelo’s ceiling frescoes of the stories of Genesis, became world famous for their detail and talent. The Sistine Chapel ceiling is approximately 40 meters long and 13 meters wide. Some of the frescoes in the Sistine Chapel include: the large fresco of The Last Judgment which was also painted by Michelangelo almost 20 years later. The Last Judgment is located on the sanctuary wall over the altar. Other frescoes in the Sistine Chapel’s walls were created by different renowned painters such as Domenico Ghirlandaio, Sandro Botticelli and Pietro Perugino. In addition in the past there was a set of large tapestries which were created by Raphael and that depicted nine scenes from the New Testament such as the Acts of St. Peter and St. Paul. These were commissioned by Pope Leo X. The tapestries designed by Raphael were displayed for the first time in the Sistine Chapel In 1519.

Every part of the Sistine Chapel is decorated and painted with astonishing works of art. are the south wall, the Last Judgment, the ceiling and north wall. The entrance wall, south, north and west walls as well as the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel are all adorned with frescoes, artifacts, figures and images which tell the stories of the bible – old and new testaments. Among others, you can see the story of , God bestowing life in man, the story of Adam and Eve, the Drunkenness of Noah the ancestors of Christ and more. Visiting the Sistine Chapel should be in everyone’s reach – to see some of the finest artwork humanity has ever produced and to see one of the holiest places in the world for Catholic Christians and millions of people across the world that look to the pope and the Vatican for spiritual guidance. The entire Vatican complex has attracted more visitors from across the world than most tourist sites due to the riches of art and treasures which can be seen and coupled with the importance of the Vatican in the Catholic faith and history of the world.

Inside the Sistine Chapel in Vatican City One of the holiest and most beautiful chapels in the world Station 1 – the Conclave Named after Pope Sixtus IV, the Sistine Chapel is perhaps the most famous chapel in the world. It is renowned both for its function as the Papal Conclave and for its incredible artwork. The Sistine Chapel serves as the room in which the pope is elected by a College of Cardinals known as the Papal Conclave. The Cardinals are locked within the chapel until a new Pope is selected. White smoke rising from the Chapel’s chimney announces the election of a new Pope by a majority of two-thirds of the conclave, while black smoke indicates that this majority has yet been reached. The Sistine Chapel was built according to the measurements of the inner sanctum of Solomon’s Temple in Jerusalem as written in the Old Testament. The screen, or “transenna”, dividing the chapel is made of marble and includes a wooden door. It was moved from its original place to provide the members of the Papal Chapel more space. Station 2 – Frescoes Along the northern, eastern and southern walls, astonishing frescoes depicting biblical stories can be seen.

The northern wall includes the ‘Stories of Christ’: Baptism of Christ, Temptation of Christ, Vocation of the Apostles, The Sermon on the Mount, The Delivery of the Keys and the Last Supper. The southern wall includes the ‘Stories of Moses’: Moses Leaving to Egypt, The Trials of Moses, The Crossing of the Red Sea, Descent from Mount Sinai, Punishment of the Rebels and the Testament and Death of Moses. The eastern wall portrays the Resurrection of Christ and Disputation over Moses' Body. These beautiful paintings were created by famous artists such as Sandro Botticelli, Cosimo Rosselli and Pietro Perugino who were commissioned by Pope Sixtus IV to restore the Chapel. The paintings of the northern and southern wall were completed in 1482 while the paintings on the eastern wall were added later in 1572 by Hendrik Van den Broeck and Matteo da Lecce. Station 3 – Michelangelo's Frescoes The ceiling and western wall of the Sistine Chapel are adorned with some of the most celebrated paintings in the world created by the famous artist – Michelangelo Buonarroti.

Michelangelo was commissioned to paint the ceiling in 1508 and he completed his work in 1512. The middle section depicts 9 stories from the Book of Genesis, including the iconic ‘Creation of Adam’ where the hand of God is seen reaching to Adam to give him life. In 1535 Michelangelo was commissioned once again to paint the western wall over the altar. He completed this spectacular painting of the ‘Last Judgment’ in 1541. The painting depicts the end-of-days and second coming of Christ when according to Christian faith all souls will be judged by Jesus, the Saints and God and sent to heaven or hell. Despite being one of the most adored works of art in history, Michelangelo was originally hesitant to paint the ceiling of the chapel for he saw himself as more of a sculptor than a painter. The original ‘Last Judgment’ painting included fully nude human figures, but these were later covered by another artist due to the demands of some Papal members who claimed that the nudity was obscene and improper.

Ceiling Sistine Chapel Ceiling Julius II's decision to completely renovate the decoration of the Ceiling was probably due to the serious problems of a static nature that affected the Sistine Chapel from the earliest years of his pontificate (1503-1513). They must have been the result of the excavations carried out both to the north and to the south of the building for the construction of the Borgia Tower and for the new St Peter's. After a long crack had opened in the Ceiling in May 1504, Bramante, then the Palace architect, was charged with finding a solution and he fixed some tie rods in the area above the Chapel. However, the damage suffered by the old painting must have been such as to convince the pontiff to entrust Michelangelo with a new pictorial decoration. On 8 May 1508, the artist signed the contract which foresaw the painting of twelve apostles in the pendentives and ornamental motifs in the rest. Subsequently, at the request of Buonarotti himself, who considered the project to be a "poor thing", the Pope gave him a new commission in which he left the full planning of the programme to the artist.

It is however quite likely that for his creation the artist availed of the cooperation of the theologians of the papal court. Michelangelo placed nine Central stories illustrating episodes of the Genesis within a powerful painted architecture, with at their sides figures of Nudes, holding medallions with texts taken from the Book of Kings. At the base of the architectural structure twelve Prophets and Sibyls seated on monumental thrones are countered lower down by Christ's forefathers, portrayed in the Webs and in the Lunettes ( north wall, south wall, entrance wall). Finally, in the four corner Pendentives , the artist illustrated some episodes of the miraculous salvation of the people of Israel. Michelangelo completed the first half of the Ceiling, that is from the entrance wall to the Creation of Eve, in August 1510. The work must have been completed by 31 October 1512, as the Pope celebrated Mass in the Chapel on 1 November. Scheme of the Ceiling The Sistine Chapel Sistine Chapel The Sistine Chapel "The frescoes that we are contemplating here introduce us into the world of the contents of the Revelation. The truths of our faith speak to us here from all sides.

From them human genius took its inspiration undertaking to clothe them in forms of incomparable beauty" . With these words pronounced in the Homily during the Holy Mass celebrated on 8 April 1994, on the occasion of the completion of the restoration of the Last Judgement, the Holy Father John Paul II wished to place emphasis on the sacredness of the place in which the paintings, like the images of a book, serve to render the truths expressed in the Holy Scriptures more understandable. The Sistine Chapel takes its name from Pope Sixtus IV della Rovere (pontiff from 1471 to 1484) who had the old Cappella Magna restored between 1477 and 1480. The 15th century decoration of the walls includes: the false drapes, the Stories of Moses ( south and entrance walls) and of Christ ( north and entrance walls) and the portraits of the Popes ( north and south and entrance walls).

It was executed by a team of painters made up initially of Pietro Perugino, Sandro Botticelli, Domenico Ghirlandaio and Cosimo Rosselli, assisted by their respective shops and by some closer assistants among whom Biagio di Antonio, Bartolomeo della Gatta and Luca Signorelli stand out. On the Ceiling Pier Matteo d'Amelia painted a starry sky. The work on the frescoes began in 1481 and was concluded in 1482. This is also the date of the following works in marble: the screen, the choir stalls (where the choristers took their places), and the pontifical coat of arms over the entrance door. On 15 August 1483, Sixtus IV consecrated the new chapel dedicating it to Our Lady of the Assumption. Julius II della Rovere (pontiff from 1503 to 1513), nephew of Sixtus IV, decided to partly alter the decoration, entrusting the work in 1508 to Michelangelo Buonarroti, who painted the Ceiling and, on the upper part of the walls, the lunettes.

The work was finished in October 1512 and on the Feast of All Saints (1 November), Julius II inaugurated the Sistine Chapel with a solemn Mass. The nine central panels show the Stories of Genesis , from the Creation to the Fall of man, to the Flood and the subsequent rebirth of mankind with the family of Noah. Reference to the first letter of Peter (3:20-22) is likely. In this the water of the flood is seen as a prophetic sign of the water of Baptism, from which a new mankind emerges, that of those saved by Christ. In the spaces between the webs we see, seated on monumental thrones, five Sibyls and seven Prophets . In the four corner pendentives are the Miraculous salvation of Israel while in the webs and lunettes ( north and south and entrance walls) are the Ancestors of Christ. Towards the end of 1533 Clement VII de' Medici (pontiff from 1523 to 1534) gave Michelangelo the task of further altering the decoration of the Sistine Chapel by painting the Last Judgement on the altar wall.

This caused the loss of the 15th century frescoes, that is to say of the altar-piece of the Virgin assumed among the Apostles and the first two episodes of the Stories of Moses and of Christ, painted by Perugino. In this fresco Michelangelo wished to show the glorious return of Christ in the light of the texts of the New Testament (cf. Matthew 24:30-31 ; 25:31-46 ; First letter to the Corinthians 15:51-55 ). The artist began the mighty work in 1536 during the pontificate of Paul III and completed it in the autumn of 1541. Using his extraordinary artistic capacities, Michelangelo tried to translate into visible forms the invisible beauty and majesty of God and guided by the words of Genesis he made the Sistine Chapel "the shrine of the theology of the human body".( Homily , pronounced by His Holiness John Paul II, 8 April 1994).

The frescoes of the entrance wall were repainted in the second half of the 16th century: Hendrik van den Broeck repainted the Resurrection of Christ by Ghirlandaio, while Matteo da Lecce repainted the Discussion over the body of Moses by Signorelli, which had been seriously damaged when the door collapsed in 1522. The frescoes of the Sistine Chapel underwent a complete restoration between 1979 and 1999. The intervention also regarded the marble parts, that is the cantoria, the screen and the coat of arms of Sixtus IV. The Conclave for the election of the Supreme Pontiff is held in the Chapel. It is again the words of the Homily pronounced by His Holiness John Paul II that underline the primary importance of the Sistine Chapel in the life of the Church: "The Sistine Chapel is the place that, for each Pope, holds the memory of a special day in his life. ... Precisely here, in this sacred space, the Cardinals gather, awaiting the manifestation of the will of Christ with regard to the person of the Successor of St Peter [...].

And here, in a spirit of obedience to Christ and trusting in his Mother, I accepted the election that sprung from the Conclave, declaring [...] my readiness to serve the Church. Thus therefore the Sistine Chapel became once again before the whole Catholic Community the place of the action of the Holy Spirit that nominates the Bishops in the Church, and nominates especially he who must be the Bishop of Rome and the Successor of Peter". Sistine Chapel Michelangelo Paintings | HowStuffWorks Sistine Chapel Michelangelo Paintings NEXT PAGENEXT View of the Sistine Chapel with the elaborate paintings by Michelangelo. The Sistine Chapel ceiling paintings by Michelangelo were commissioned by Pope Julius II in 1508. Michelangelo tried to refuse the commission, but he eventually gave in to pressure from the pope. By fall of the same year, painting on the ceiling had begun. Working on scaffolding was physically demanding, and Michelangelo created image after image on an ever increasing scale. He eventually exerted all the power of his mind and spirit, using themes and motifs from past sculptural works in his glorious fresco masterpiece.

The four-year ordeal proved physically and emotionally agonizing for the reluctant artist, who recounted, "After four tortured years, more than 400 over life-size figures, I felt as old and as weary as Jeremiah. I was only 37, yet friends did not recognize the old man I had become." Related Articles How Art Works There is no single most advantageous point from which to view Michelangelo's colossal vision on the Sistine ceiling. Individual scenes are independent of the figures surrounding them. In Last Judgment (behind the altar at front), the master grouped the figures in four broad tiers that are connected by the clockwise movement of the figures upward from the graves at lower left and downward toward hell at right. In this article, each page will explore another detail of this enormous piece of art. Follow the links below and discover Michelangelo's frescoes within the Sistine Chapel. Sistine Chapel Ceiling : Get an overall look at this magnificent work. Delphic Sibyl Within the Sistine Chapel Ceiling : This page looks further at a detail, Delphic Sibyl, the most youthful and beautiful of the chapel sibyls.

Creation of Sun, Moon, and Planets Within the Sistine Chapel Ceiling : See and read about this dynamic detail of the sun, moon, and planets of the Sistine ceiling. Creation of Adam Within the Sistine Chapel Ceiling : Perhaps the most familiar section of the entire ceiling is the touch of God, as Michelangelo depicted the creation of man. Find out more about this detail. Deluge Within the Sistine Chapel Ceiling : This scene of the great flood was one of the early works on the ceiling. Learn about the development in Michelangelo's paintings. Creation of Eve Within the Sistine Chapel Ceiling : In this scene, Michelangelo changed God's appearance from the other creation scenes. Read more about Eve's creation. Fall of Man Within the Sistine Chapel Ceiling : Find out why this depiction of the Original Sin was so groundbreaking when Michelangelo painted it. Cumaean Sibyl Within the Sistine Chapel Ceiling : Learn more about the sibyls and Michelangelo's usage of them, characters from ancient myths, within a Christian context. The Sistine Chapel with frescos by the greatest Italian Renaissance artists Renaissance Blog The Sistine Chapel.

The Sistine Chapel plays an important role in Italian Renaissance art history and it houses some or the most iconic images of the era. The chapel, located within the Vatican City, is named after Sixtus IV della Rovere and is built on the site of a Medieval hall the "Cappella Magna". It was used for assemblies by the Papal Court. The building work started in 1475 ended in 1483, and the chapel was inaugurated by the Pope who dedicated the it to Our Lady of the Assumption. The chapel is used by the College of Cardinals for the election of a new pope (who is considered to be the successor of St Peter). The chapel's dimensions (40.23 meters in length, 13.40 meters in width and 20.70 meters in height) are reputed to be copied from Solomon’s temple in Jerusalem which was destroyed in 70 A.D. The Chapel's decoration was completed by Michelangelo and was Commissioned by Pope Julius II.

Michelangelo was reluctant to accept the work (he always considered himself to be a sculptor rather than a painter) but he eventually agreed to fresco the vault and the painting took four years to complete 1508-1512. "The Sistine Chapel" (s) Personal opinion:- It is impossible to fully appreciate the grandeur of this building without visiting it for yourself. With it's arched windows and barrel vault ceiling, you are surrounded by some of the greatest artwork ever produced. If you love art this place will make your head spin, it is a feast for the senses and, even if you are just a curious tourist, you will be blown away. When the structure was complete the side walls of the chapel were decorated in 1481 with frescoes by the greatest Italian Renaissance artists. From Florence, Botticelli, Rosselli, Ghirlandaio and Signorelli and Umbrian artists such as Perugino and Pinturicchio. Botticelli in the Sistine Chapel The Ignudi support the corners of the smaller scenes on the chapel ceiling. These four examples highlight Michelangelo's understanding ofthe human form.

(s) You have got to see this great bit of technology which gives you private access to the Chapel. It's great because in reality you would never be alone in the room, which is always very crowded, and of course in person you can't see Michelangelo's spectacular artwork close up as you can here. This virtual tour was prepared by Villanova University at the request of the Vatican. Just click and drag your arrow in the direction you wish to see. In the lower left, click on the plus (+) to move closer, or on the minus (-) to move away. God, the creator of the heavens. Michelangelo (s) The Charge to St Peter. Perugino (South Wall) (s) Vocation of Peter and Andrew. Ghirlandaio. Detail (s) Michelangelo's Sistine Ceiling 1508-1512 The restoration of the Sistine Chapel was done between 1980 and 1992 and the work on the Last Judgement lasted for four years ending in 1994. The restoration consisted of washing the frescoes with distilled water and a mild solvent removing the layers of dirt that had built up over the years.

The Creation of Adam (detail) by Michelangelo. (w) Demon from Hell. Detail from The Last Judgement. (s) Twenty years after finishing the frescoes for the vault Michelangelo painted his "Last Judgement" on the far wall of the chapel. The Prophet Daniel. Before and after cleaning. (w) All of the candle smoke produced in the chapel had dulled the colours in the frescoes to such an extent that it was thought that Michelangelo was more interested in his bulky figures than any rendition of colour. The cleaning process has revealed the vivid, bright colours that had been skilfully blended by the artist reducing the flattening effect of the figures. The result is a re-discovery of Michelangelo's works which can now be seen as vividly as the day the artist originally painted them. The chapel is now climate controlled, with filters and air conditioning to deal with modern pollution levels.

Question: Who painted the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel?
Answer: Michelangelo