Top 10 Facts about the Sistine Chapel ceiling by Michelangelo

By By Aaron Logan – Wikimedia

Top 10 Facts about the Sistine Chapel ceiling by Michelangelo

The Sistine Chapel, also known as Cappella Sistina in Italian, attracts millions of tourists annually.

Its beauty is not only enchanting but also overwhelming. The outside might be deceiving to many since it does not tell of the treasures inside.

Inside the Sistine Chapel are frescoes that are fascinating and stunning at the same time.

Its ceiling has the most famous frescoes that were painted by a talented sculptor turned painter, Michelangelo.

The Chapel is within the Vatican City and its glorious museums. At least 25,000 visitors walk into this chapel daily to marvel at the masterpiece on the ceiling.

Built between 1477 and 1480 under the papacy of Sixtus IV and after whom it is named; the frescoes inside were commissioned by Pope Julius II.

The Chapel still serves as a place of worship, a papal conclave and other important functions.    

Here are 10 facts about the Sistine Chapel ceiling by Michelangelo.

1. The story of the book of Genesis is featured on the ceiling

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At the centre of the ceiling, the decoration is nine scenes from the Book of Genesis.

One of them is the famous Creation of Adam which many art critics have compared it to Leonardo da Vinci’s Mona Lisa.

From this painting, the hands of God and Adam have been reproduced countless times.

This scene is made up of complex designs with several separate figures clothed and some nude.

Michelangelo was able to establish his skill through this painting. He created a huge variety of poses for the human figure that subsequently became influential.

Other scenes by Michelangelo from the bible that have been featured on the ceiling include the Last Judgement.

2. The work was commissioned by Pope Julius II

Michelangelo was commissioned by Pope Julius II in 1508.

He started by working on a cycle of frescoes on the upper walls and vault of the Sistine Chapel.

Although Michelangelo found the work daunting, he was satisfied with what he did.

He was reluctant on taking the job because he considered himself a sculptor and not a painter.

At one point, Michelangelo thought that the job was a trap and quietly left Rome before coming back.

This fresco in the Sistine Chapel is one of his famous work and considered to be the most heroic achievement.

Michelangelo did all the work by himself although at some point he considered getting assistants to finish it up quickly.

None of the candidates of the found could match up to his skills.

3. Michelangelo worked backwards on the frescoes

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Michelangelo began work at the Sistine Chapel in spring 1508.

He began at the west end with the Drunkenness of Noah and the Prophet Zechariah.

Working backwards, he finished with the creation of Eve in the vault’s fifth bay. He finished working on the fresco in August 1511.

During this time, he took a short break from painting as they built the scaffolding he used while painting.

He continued with the second part of the painting and finished it a year later in 1512, it was known as All Hallows Eve.

4. Michelangelo started working on the Sistine Chapel ceiling aged 30

When he was commissioned to paint the Sistine Chapel ceiling, Michelangelo was 30-years old.

At this age, he had a good reputation as a sculptor.

He worked on three great projects which he never got to finish due to several interruptions.

His work at this glorious Chapel was not all fun and game; there were disappointments, quarrels, hesitations, interruptions.

This was not only from the people he worked with but also from his family members.

At one point he quarrelled with the Pope and soon after he secretly left Rome for Florence.

He returned to Rome after the Florentine government asked him to return to the Pope.

By the time he was finishing the fresco on the Sistine Ceiling, Michelangelo was 37-years old and his reputation preceded him.  

5. Michelangelo’s frescoes on the Sistine ceiling tell the bible story

By Michelangelo – Wikimedia

The frescoes on the Sistine Ceiling by Michelangelo are part of the 15th-century narrative.

It tells of the lives of Moses and Christ by Perugio and Botticelli. The central scene of the mural is the events from the book of Genesis.

There is debate however on who the multitude of figures depicted in the mural is.

This magnificent work earned him a good reputation in the artistic scheme.

Lorenzo Ghiberti loved the work that he did on the bronze doors for the Baptistery of Florence.

The themes and subjects featured in the Fresco were decided by the Pope while Michelangelo worked on the presentation of the design.

6. The narrative by Michelangelo begins on the east end of the ceiling

The first scene from the story of creation begins above the altar at the Chapel’s east end.

That section is where the eucharistic ceremonies are performed by the clergy.

Right above the altar is a small rectangular field that has the primal act of creation.

Towards the west end, are the nine central fields that showcase the drunkenness of Noah.

This scene is by the door used by the laity, it represents the sinful nature of man.

There are figures of naked male youths above the cornice, their significance is however not known.

7. The ceiling was already decorated before Michelangelo started working on it

By By Aaron Logan – Wikimedia

Before Michelangelo started on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel, it had been decorated.

There was a fresco of a blue night sky with golden stars that was painted by the Umbrian artist Piero Matteo d’Amelia.

Two years before Michelangelo started working on the Sistine Ceiling, Pope Julius II came up with the brilliant idea of painting the ceiling.

The lowest wall of the three levels was painted to resemble draped hangings.

This hanging is still hung on special occasions with a set of tapestries designed by Raphael.

The middle level of the wall has a fresco that illustrates the life of Christ on the right side, while the left side tells of the life of Moses.

8. Michelangelo was reluctant to take up the job

Michelangelo was not a painter but a sculptor. This, therefore, made him reluctant to take on the work.

Pope Julius II was however adamant and left Michelangelo no choice but to accept the job.

When he was summoned, Michelangelo was working on the Battle of Cascina which he left unfinished.

Both the Pope and Michelangelo were hot-tempered frequently argued.

Michelangelo detested painting so much so that he wrote a poem expressing his frustrations.

He shared the poem with his friend Giovanni da Pistoia complaining about the physical strain of the work.   

9. He did not paint the ceiling lying down

Contrary to popular belief, Michelangelo did not paint the Sistine Ceiling lying down on his back.

There was a scaffolding that he stood on while painting for more precision and control.

The entire area of the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel is a little larger than a professional basketball court.

There are frescoes by other artists such as Domenico Ghirlandaio, Pietro Perugino, Cosimo Roselli and Sandro Botticelli on the walls of the Chapel.

10. Michelangelo had to repaint his work after a year

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When Michelangelo started working on the walls of the Pope’s library, a large part of his work became mouldy.

He tried to use this as proof of being a poor painter to the Pope. The Pope did not accept his excuse and asked him to repaint it,

This was a year after he started painting the walls.  

Michelangelo did have to repaint a large portion of his work after some of it became mouldy one year after he started.

The work has since held together and one can hardly tell of any redo of the fresco.