The Sistine Chapel ceiling

 

 

The Sistine Chapel ceiling painted in fresco by Michelangelo 

 

The Sistine Chapel ceiling (Italian: Soffitto della Cappella Sistina), painted in fresco by Michelangelo between 1508 and 1512, is a cornerstone work of High Renaissance art.

The Sistine Chapel is the large papal chapel built within the Vatican between 1477 and 1480 by Pope Sixtus IV, for whom the chapel is named. The ceiling was painted at the commission of Pope Julius II.

 

 

The ceiling's various painted elements form part of a larger scheme of decoration within the chapel. Prior to Michelangelo's contribution, the walls were painted by several leading artists of the late 15th century including Sandro Botticelli, Domenico Ghirlandaio, and Pietro Perugino. After the ceiling was painted, Raphael created a set of large tapestries (1515–1516) to cover the lower portion of the wall. Michelangelo returned to the chapel to create The Last Judgment, a large wall fresco situated behind the altar. The chapel's decoration illustrates much of the doctrine of the Catholic Church, serving as the location for papal conclaves and many other important services.[1][2]

 

 

Central to the ceiling decoration are nine scenes from the Book of Genesis, including The Creation of Adam.[3] The complex design includes several sets of figures, some clothed and some nude, allowing Michelangelo to demonstrate his skill in depicting the human figure in a variety of poses. The ceiling was immediately well-received and imitated by other artists, continuing to the present. It has been restored several times, most recently from 1980-94.

 

Brighter version of Sistine Chapel ceiling photograph to illuminate paintings

 

Comparison between Michelangelo's sketch of the Sistine ceiling's architectural outline (Archivio Buonarroti, XIII, 175v) and a view from below of the Chapel ceiling. Comparison by Adriano Marinazzo (2013)

 

The ceiling's west end (above the entrance)

 

The ceiling's west end (detail), showing pendentives and the Prophet Zechariah

Separation of Light from Darkness, showing illusionary architecture and flanking Prophets

CAPPELLA_SISTINA_Ceiling

 

Plan of the pictorial elements of the ceiling showing the division of the narrative scenes into three-part themes

 

La Separación de la Luz de la Oscuridad

 

The Creation of the Sun and the Moon, Michelangelo (1508-1512)

 

Sistine Chapel, fresco Michelangelo,

 

 

Creación de Adán

 

Michelangelo, Creation of Eve 00

 

Expulsion del paraíso

 

Michelangelo, Sacrifice of Noah 00

 

Sistine chapel ceiling.

Michelangelo, Drunkenness of Noah 00

 

The_Punishment_of_Haman

Sistine chapel ceiling.

 

The_Brazen_Serpent_

Sistine chapel ceiling.

'Judith_and_Holofernes'_by_Michelangelo

 

David_and_Goliath

Sistine chapel ceiling.

The lunette of Jacob and his son Joseph, the husband of Mary. The suspicious old man is thought to be Jacob, but resembles depictions of Joseph.

 

Ezekias spandrel

'Ignudo'_by_Michelangelo_

An ignudo commonly reproduced by other artists

 

Monreale_creation_earth

Creation of the Sun, Moon, and Stars mosaic (12th century), Monreale Cathedral

 

Creation of Adam mosaic, Monreale Cathedral

Creation of Eve, Monreale Cathedral

Creation of Eve relief, Jacopo della Quercia (c. 1374–1438), Bologna Cathedral

 

Creation and Expulsion from Paradise (1445), Giovanni di Paolo

Raphael's The Prophet Isaiah was painted in imitation of Michelangelo's prophets.