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 Mediaeval 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 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 frescos by the greatest Italian Renaissance artists. From Florence, Botticcelli, Rosselli, Girlandio and Signorelli and Umbrian artists such as Perugino and Pinturicchio. 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.
Michelangelo's Sistine Ceiling 1508-1512
The Creation of Adam (detail) by Michelangelo. (w) Twenty years after finishing the frescos for the vault Michelangelo painted his "Last Judgement" on the far wall of the chapel. 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 result is a re-discovery of Michelangelo's works which can now be seen as vividly as the day the artist originally painted them.
Demon from Hell. Detail from The Last Judgement. (s)
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