Michelangelo Sistine Chapel Ceiling Painting

In 1508 ce the pope commissioned the celebrated florentine sculptor and painter michelangelo 1475 1564 ce to paint scenes on the ceiling of the vatican s sistine chapel.

Michelangelo sistine chapel ceiling painting. Painted directly on the ceiling of the sistine chapel in the vatican the masterpiece depicts key scenes from the book of genesis. Five centuries after michelangelo s ceiling frescoes were inaugurated at the sistine chapel at least 10 000 people visit the site each day raising concerns about temperature dust and humidity. It already contained distinguished wall paintings and michelangelo was asked to add works for the relatively unimportant ceiling.

The sistine chapel ceiling italian. Sistine chapel ceiling by michelangelo when michelangelo actually started painting the sistine chapel ceiling at the east end probably in the early months of 1509 the implications of the structure had not been entirely established in his mind. Ostensibly the private chapel of the pope the sistine chapel is now a major attraction that s also packed with over five centuries of art history says smithsonian magazine during the renaissance a series of popes commissioned artists to decorate the chapel making it a monument to the church the earthly skill of the artisans and the depth of the papal checking account.

Michelangelo was commissioned to paint the ceiling of the sistine chapel in 1508 and he completed his work in 1512. The ceiling of the sistine chapel the sistine chapel had great symbolic meaning for the papacy as the chief consecrated space in the vatican used for great ceremonies such as electing and inaugurating new popes. Michelangelo s sistine chapel ceiling is one of the most influential artworks of all time and a foundational work of renaissance art.

The middle section depicts nine stories from the book of genesis including the renowned creation of adam where the hand of god is seen reaching to adam to instill him with life. Volta della cappella sistina painted by michelangelo between 1508 and 1512 is a cornerstone work of high renaissance art the ceiling is that of the sistine chapel the large papal chapel built within the vatican between 1477 and 1480 by pope sixtus iv for whom the chapel is named it was painted at the commission of pope julius ii.