Sistine Chapel Fresco

Michelangelo: Sistine Chapel Fresco

Michelangelo: The Sistine Chapel

Left: Our reproduction of a profet sixteen chapel

The Sistine Chapel is named after Pope Sixtus IV (1471-84) who decided to have a large room built where formerly a Mediaeval fortified hall stood which was used for assemblies by the Papal Court. The construction works were initiated in 1475 and completed in 1483. The decoration of the new chapel was completed by Sixtus IV’s nephew, Giuliano della Rovere, who became Pope Julius II (1503 – 1513). He summoned Michelangelo Buonarotti who was already well known in Florence and had previously worked for the new pope. After some initial reluctance, Michelangelo undertook the task of decorating the chapel, and the theme was the history of mankind before the coming of Christ. Later on between 1536 and 1541, Michelangelo also painted the "Last Judgement" in the chapel, commissioned by Paul III. The theme of this cycle of frescoes was mankind’s fate and God as the absolute judge of man’s destiny.

Left: Our reproduction (By Sergio Bonometti)
The vault is Michelangelo’s masterpiece and one of the most important paintings in the world. It covers 800 sqm. of wall with "good fresco" painting. The images of the vault represent humanity’s long wait for Christ, the prophecies foreseeing his coming and scenes from the Genesis. All the figures are set in a monumental architectural background in a manner that emphasized the harmony of the compositions.

It took 4 years between 1508 and 1512 to complete the decorations of the Sistine Chapel.