Marcus Chen
The Sistine Chapel is renowned for its frescoes, most notably those on the ceiling and The Last Judgment, both by Michelangelo. Michelangelo painted the ceiling between 1508 and 1512, and The Last Judgment between 1535 and 1541. The frescoes on the side walls, depicting the Life of Christ and the Life of Moses, were painted earlier, from 1481 to 1482, by a team of Renaissance masters including Sandro Botticelli, Pietro Perugino, Pinturicchio, Domenico Ghirlandaio, and Cosimo Rosselli.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Artist | Michelangelo |
| Paintings | The Last Judgment, The Creation of the Heavens and Earth, The Creation of Adam and Eve, The Expulsion from the Garden of Eden, Noah and the Great Flood, The Deluge |
| Dates | 1508-1512, 1535-1541 |
| Location | Sistine Chapel, Vatican City |
| Medium | Fresco |
| Size | 40m x 13m, over 5000 sq ft |
| Patron | Pope Julius II |
| Other Artists Involved | Raphael, Bramante, Sandro Botticelli, Pietro Perugino, Domenico Ghirlandaio, Cosimo Rosselli, Biagio di Antonio, Bartolomeo della Gatta, Luca Signorelli |
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What You'll Learn
Michelangelo painted the ceiling between 1508 and 1512
Michelangelo painted the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel between 1508 and 1512. The project was commissioned by Pope Julius II, who initially asked Michelangelo to paint the ceiling with a geometric ornament and place the twelve apostles in spandrels around the decoration. However, Michelangelo proposed to paint scenes from the Old Testament, which can be seen on the vault today. The frescoes depict incidents and personages from the Old Testament, including The Creation of the Heavens and Earth, The Creation of Adam and Eve, the Expulsion from the Garden of Eden, and Noah and the Great Flood.
The ceiling of the Sistine Chapel is considered one of the major artistic accomplishments of human civilization, and its creation is thought to have changed the course of Western art. Michelangelo's work on the ceiling is said to have had a profound effect on other artists, even before its completion. The project was not without its challenges, as Michelangelo initially sought to engage assistants who were more well-versed in fresco painting, but he was unable to do so. Additionally, there was a dispute over payments between September 1510 and February, June, or September 1511, which resulted in a pause in the work during that period.
The Sistine Chapel takes its name from Pope Sixtus IV della Rovere, who had the old Cappella Magna restored between 1477 and 1480. The chapel's interior walls were decorated with frescoes by a team of Renaissance painters, including Sandro Botticelli, Pietro Perugino, Pinturicchio, Domenico Ghirlandaio, and Cosimo Rosselli. These frescoes were completed in 1482, and on 15 August 1483, Sixtus IV consecrated the new chapel, dedicating it to Our Lady of the Assumption.
After the work on the interior walls was finished, Pope Julius II, the nephew of Sixtus IV, decided to alter the decoration of the ceiling and entrusted the work to Michelangelo in 1508. Michelangelo's frescoes replaced an earlier scheme of decoration, which featured a blue ceiling studded with gilt stars and decorative borders. The work on the ceiling was completed in October 1512, and on 1 November, Julius II inaugurated the Sistine Chapel with a solemn Mass.
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The Last Judgement was painted between 1535 and 1541
The Last Judgement, a fresco by Michelangelo, was painted on the altar wall of the Sistine Chapel between 1535 and 1541. It is a depiction of the Second Coming of Christ, the Last Judgement, and the final and eternal judgement of humanity by God. The work was commissioned in 1534 by Pope Clement VII, but it was completed under Pope Paul III.
The painting took over four years to complete, with preparation of the altar wall beginning in 1535. Michelangelo began work on it 25 years after finishing the Sistine Chapel ceiling. The Last Judgement was painted between two important historic events: the Sack of Rome by mercenary forces of the Holy Roman Empire in 1527, and the Council of Trent in 1545.
The Last Judgement is a traditional subject for large church frescoes, but it was unusual to place it at the east end, over the altar. The composition reflects traditional Western depictions, but with a fresh and original approach. Michelangelo's interpretation was inspired by Dante's The Divine Comedy, as well as Virgil's Aeneid.
The painting features over 300 figures, with nearly all the males and angels originally shown as nudes. Many were later covered up by painted draperies, though some remain after recent cleaning and restoration. Michelangelo himself painted his own portrait on the flayed skin held by St. Bartholomew.
The Sistine Chapel's fame lies mainly in the frescoes that decorate its interior, particularly the ceiling and The Last Judgement, both by Michelangelo. The primary function of the Sistine Chapel is as the chapel of the Papal Chapel, though it is also known as the location of papal conclaves.
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The frescoes on the side walls were painted from 1481 to 1482
The frescoes on the side walls of the Sistine Chapel were painted from 1481 to 1482. The earliest part of the present scheme of frescoes is that of the side walls, which are divided into three main tiers. The central tier of the walls has two cycles of paintings, which complement each other: The Life of Moses and The Life of Christ. These frescoes were commissioned in 1480 by Pope Sixtus IV and executed by a team of painters, including Pietro Perugino, Sandro Botticelli, Domenico Ghirlandaio, and Cosimo Rosselli.
The north wall of the chapel features six frescoes depicting events from the life of Christ, painted by Perugino, Pinturicchio, Sandro Botticelli, Domenico Ghirlandaio, and Cosimo Rosselli. The south wall also features six frescoes, depicting events from the life of Moses. These were painted by Perugino, Pinturicchio, Botticelli, Domenico Ghirlandaio, Benedetto Ghirlandaio, Rosselli, Luca Signorelli, and Bartolomeo della Gatta. Above these works, smaller frescoes between the windows depict various popes.
The frescoes on the side walls were completed in 1482, and on 15 August 1483, Sixtus IV consecrated the new chapel, dedicating it to Our Lady of the Assumption. The Sistine Chapel's fame lies mainly in these frescoes that decorate its interior, particularly the ceiling and The Last Judgment, both by Michelangelo. The chapel has served as a place of religious and functionary papal activity and is the site of the papal conclave, the process by which a new pope is selected.
The first stage in the decoration of the Sistine Chapel was the painting of the ceiling in blue, studded with gilt stars, and decorative borders. This was entirely replaced when Michelangelo came to work on the ceiling in 1508. The primary function of the Sistine Chapel is as the chapel of the Papal Chapel (Cappella Pontificia), one of the two bodies of the papal household.
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The chapel was built between 1477 and 1480
The Sistine Chapel was built between 1477 and 1480 and is a simple brick building with six arched windows on each of the two main walls. It was commissioned by Pope Sixtus IV, for whom the chapel is named. The first stage in the decoration of the chapel was the painting of the ceiling in blue, adorned with gilt stars, and decorative borders. This was later replaced when Michelangelo worked on the ceiling in 1508.
The frescoes on the side walls of the chapel were painted from 1481 to 1482 by a team of Renaissance painters, including Pietro Perugino, Sandro Botticelli, Domenico Ghirlandaio, and Cosimo Rosselli. These frescoes depict the Life of Moses and the Life of Christ, offset by papal portraits above and trompe l'œil drapery below.
In 1508, Michelangelo began working on the frescoes for Pope Julius II, replacing the original blue ceiling. Michelangelo painted Old Testament scenes, including The Creation of the Heavens and Earth, The Creation of Adam and Eve, and the Expulsion from the Garden of Eden. This work was completed in 1512 and is considered one of the major artistic accomplishments of human civilization.
Michelangelo returned to the chapel in 1535 to paint The Last Judgment, which was completed in 1541. This fresco is situated behind the altar and spans the entire wall. The Sistine Chapel's fame is largely due to Michelangelo's frescoes, which have drawn multitudes of visitors over the centuries.
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Michelangelo's frescoes replaced a blue ceiling dotted with stars
The Sistine Chapel is primarily known for Michelangelo's frescoes, which adorn the interior, particularly the ceiling and The Last Judgment. The chapel's walls were decorated 20 years before Michelangelo began work on the ceiling. The first frescoes that Michelangelo painted contain multiple figures, much smaller in size, engaged in complex narratives.
Michelangelo replaced a blue ceiling dotted with stars, originally painted by Pier Matteo d'Amelia. The pope originally asked Michelangelo to paint the ceiling with a geometric ornament and place the twelve apostles in spandrels around the decoration. However, Michelangelo proposed to paint Old Testament scenes, which can be seen on the vault today. The narrative begins at the altar and is divided into three sections.
In the first three paintings, Michelangelo tells the story of The Creation of the Heavens and Earth, followed by The Creation of Adam and Eve, and the Expulsion from the Garden of Eden. The final fresco in this series is the story of Noah and the Great Flood. Ignudi, or nude youths, sit in fictive architecture around these frescoes, and they are accompanied by prophets and sibyls (ancient seers who, according to tradition, foretold the coming of Christ) in the spandrels.
Michelangelo began work on the frescoes in 1508 and continued until 1512. He started with the Noah fresco on the entrance side of the chapel. Once he completed this scene, he removed the scaffolding and realised that the figures were too small to be seen properly from the ground. As a result, he decided to adopt larger figures in his subsequent frescoes.
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Frequently asked questions
Michelangelo began painting the Sistine Chapel in 1508.
Michelangelo finished painting the Sistine Chapel in 1512.
Michelangelo returned to the Sistine Chapel to paint The Last Judgment between 1535 and 1541.
The first mass was held in the Sistine Chapel on 15 August 1483.
