THE SISTINE CHAPEL CEILING

The Sistine Chapel is one of the most famous rooms inside the Vatican. The reason of this is because of the treassure that is inside the chapel, the paintings made by Michelangelo Buonarotti.

At the end of the fifteenth century Buonarotti was, indeed, one the most brilliant artist in Florence. He was such a celebrity, whose ability to work with marble did not know rival. In fact, "The Pietá" was considered a masterpiece at the end of the fifteenth century.

At the begining of the sixteenth century, the Pope Julius II was very busy to built the Saint Peter's Chuch. Furthermore, the Pope wanted to conclude the renovation of the Sistine Chapel which have started a century before. 

The most excelsiors paintings of the Italian Renaissance, included Sandro Boticelli, Domenico Guirlandaio and Pietro Perugino, have  painted several themes alongside the walls of the Sixtine Chapel. It only remained the ceiling to finish the works. At first, Julius II thought on Rafaelo Sanzio, although Bramante who was working for the Pope as his former arquitect, suggested the name of Buonarotti as the perfect man for the work.

When Michelangelo heard that the Pope himself had a job for him, he was very proud, so he went to Rome at once. Nevertherless, when the Pope told Buonarotti that he was chosen to paint the Sistine Chapel ceiling, the artist was reluctant to take on the work. That was a terrible offense, because he was a sculpture, not a painter.

Despite the terrible start, Michaelangelo decided to accept the work. The ceiling was painting from 1508 to 1512. Buonarotti worked all that time alone, because he thought that no one else could do what he does.

The main topic of the ceiling was the begining of the human race. Although most of the scenes were related to the Bible, that was the perfect excuse for Michaelangelo to pay tribute to the human body.

One of the most impresive frescos is "The creation of Adam". The first man is lay with his left hand up, waiting for God who is going to turn up the button of life.

This is the iconic image of the hand of God giving life to Adam. It is such a powerful image, to conect a human being with God. Alongside "the creation of Adam", another important scene is "The creation of Eve".

In "the creation of Eve", Adam is asleep while Eve emerged from Adam's cloak.
The story of Adam and Eve continues with "The original sin" and their expulsion from the garden of Eden.

There are also, other narrative stories we can see on the ceiling. The creation of Earth and the Sun, or God separiting the waters from the heavens.

Furthermore there are several scenes from Noe story. The most important of all, the topic about the Great Flood.

Apart from the narrative scenes, the decoration of the ceiling is complete by a group of prophets and sibyls. Both are very important characters because they foretold the coming to the Mesiah. You can see some images below:

Michelangelo finished the ceiling in 1512. Although he returned to the Sistine chapel again in 1536 to paint The Last Jugdment, but that is a story to tell in another time...

All the images are from wikipedia.

To learn more...

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Sistine ceiling Vatican museum

Sistine Chapel  ceiling video