Within the confines of the rectangular brick building known as the Sistine Chapel is one of history’s most famous pieces of artwork. One of the chapel’s alluring attributes is its ceiling, painted by Michelangelo in 1512.
Get to Know the Sistine Chapel
Giovanni dei Dolci was an Italian architect who not only built the Sistine Chapel but also refashioned the Vatican Library. The Capella Magna was the original chapel on the grounds where the Sistine Chapel now stands. The interior of Capella Magna was rebuilt in1477, at the request of Pope Sixtus IV della Rovere. The new chapel was then renamed Sistine Chapel in honor of the pope.
The Sistine Chapel is roughly 132 feet long, 44 feet wide, and 68 feet high. It took an estimated eight years to complete the structure and four years for Michelangelo to create his masterpiece, The Creation of Adam.
Who Was Pope Sixtus IV?
Francesco della Rovere was born on July 21, 1414. Though involved in political controversies, including a plot to overthrow Lorenzo de’ Medici, Pope Sixtus IV was a founder of many significant historical institutions.
He established the first foundling hospital, built numerous Roman basilicas, such as St. Maria del Popolo, St. Maria della Pace, and the Sistine Chapel. In 1464, he became minister general of his order and by 1467, he was made cardinal. He was pope between 1471 and 1484. He passed away in Rome on August 12, 1484.
Michelangelo’s Paintings
According to historical records, in 1508, Michelangelo was commissioned by Pope Julius II to paint the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel. It took him over four years to finish painting all 343 figures on the ceiling. Michelangelo’s work of art was revealed to the public on November 1, 1512.
Michelangelo created nine paintings depicting scenes from Genesis. These can all be seen at the highest part of the chapel’s ceiling. The Creation of Adam is one of the names of the paintings by Michelangelo. It is the most well-known of all his paintings and lives next to his Creation of Eve and the Congregation of the Waters, inside the Sistine Chapel.
The painting portrays the biblical telling of creation, when God breaths life into Adam, the first human on earth. Some believe that it symbolizes the connection between creator and creation or two people who simply wish to make a connection with one another.
Who Was Michelangelo?
Born on March 6, 1475, Michelangelo di Lodovico Buonarroti Simoni, was an Italian sculptor, painter, architect, and poet during the Renaissance. His skills led to fame, which consequently led to his career being documented more than any other artist.
Michelangelo began his creative journey at a very young age, becoming an artist apprentice at the age of 13. His first painting, the Torment of Saint Anthony, is located in Fort Worth, Texas, and can be viewed at the Kimbell Art Museum. The rest of his works are dispersed throughout the world.
Interesting Facts
- Michelangelo’s art is what made the chapel famous.
- When work first started on the Sistine Chapel, the strong walls were built with the intent to protect the Vatican against attacks.
- The Sistine Chapel is the Pope’s personal chapel and the place where new popes are chosen.
- Michelangelo was 33 years old when he was asked to paint the chapel.
- Michelangelo used wooden scaffolds to paint the chapel ceiling while standing.
- The artist was miserable painting the chapel and wrote a poem, Labor Pains, about it.
- In The Creation of Adam, God’s scene is thought to resemble the human brain.
- Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel paintings are known as frescoes, which are paintings done rapidly in watercolor on wet plaster, helping the colors become fixed to the plaster as it dries.
- Michelangelo considered himself a better sculptor than a painter.
- Artwork by Domenico Ghirlandaio, Pietro Perugino, Cosimo Rosselli and Sandro Botticelli can be seen on the Sistine Chapel walls.
Planning and Visiting
With thousands of visitors passing through Vatican City and the Sistine Chapel, the best time to visit is during the early opening hours and by purchasing a VIP ticket. If you’re okay with crowds, then anytime during normal business hours will do.
The chapel has undergone several renovations since its beginnings. It has been a large influence on the architectural and art world.