Sistine Chapel

The Sistine Chapel

The Sistine Chapel (its name from Pope Sixtus IV), one of the most famous chapels in the world is in Vatican City. It is famous because of its architecture and decoration. Its frescoed throughout by the greatest Renaissance artists, like Pietro Perugino, Sandro Botticelli, Domenico Ghirlandaio, Cosimo Rosselli and Michelangelo. The Sistine Chapel was dedicated to the Assumption of the Virgin Mary (Our Lady of the Assumption).

The Sistine Chapel is also a site of papal religious and functionary activity, notably for the conclave, at which a new Pope is selected.

History

Pope Sixtus IV (from 1471 to 1484) had the old Cappella Magna restored between 1477 and 1480. At that time the decoration of the walls (frescoes) included the false drapes, the Stories of Moses (south and entrance walls) and of Christ (north and entrance walls) and the portraits of the Popes (north and south and entrance walls).

Julius II (pontiff from 1503 to 1513), decided to partly alter the decoration, entrusting the work in 1508 to Michelangelo Buonarroti for a new pictorial decoration. Michelangelo painted the Ceiling from 1508 to 1512 and placed nine Central stories, illustrating episodes of the Genesis from the Creation to the Fall of man, within a powerful painted architecture. The work was finished in October 1512.

Christ Giving the Key to St. Peter

In 1533, Clement VII (pontiff from 1523 to 1534) gave Michelangelo the task of further altering the decoration of the Sistine Chapel by painting the Last Judgement on the altar wall. The Last Judgement, painted between 1535 and 1541, is centred around the dominant figure of Christ, captured in the moment preceding that when the verdict of the Last Judgement is uttered (Matthew 25:31-46). His calm imperious gesture seems to both command attention and placate the surrounding agitation.

External links

• The Sistine Chapel at the Vatican web site.

Creation of Adam