Sistine Chapel Ceiling By Michelangelo

Volta della cappella sistina painted by michelangelo between 1508 and 1512 is a cornerstone work of high renaissance art.

Sistine chapel ceiling by michelangelo. 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. Central to the ceiling decoration are nine scenes from the book of genesis of which the creation of adam is the best known the hands of god and adam being reproduced in countless imitations. The sistine chapel ceiling painted by michelangelo between 1508 and 1512 is one of the most renowned artworks of the high renaissance.

The complex design includes several sets of individual figures both clothed and nude which allowed michelangelo to fully demonstrate his skill in creating a huge variety. Painted directly on the ceiling of the sistine chapel in the vatican the masterpiece depicts key scenes from the book of genesis. It already contained distinguished wall paintings and michelangelo was asked to add works for the relatively unimportant ceiling.

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. Michelangelo s sistine chapel ceiling is one of the most influential artworks of all time and a foundational work of renaissance art. 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.

The first section still contains sharp discrepancies in scale between the large figures outside the central scenes and the smaller figures that crowd within them.