Sistene Chapel

Photos are not allowed in the Sistine chapel. I think Michaelangelo would have protested.

Vatican, Michaelangelo, Sistine chapel, The Last Judgement

Michaelangelo's The Last Judgement. This was Michaelangelo's last piece for the Chapel, and there is much evidence that he wasn't particularly pleased with his employers. There was considerable complaint about Michaelangelo's use of nudes in the work, and the Pope's Master of Ceramonies, Biagio da Cesena, demanded that the frescos be painted over. Michaelangelo responded by working da Cesena into the painting as the Judge of the Underworld. When da Cesena complained the Pope replied that his authority did not extend into hell, and the frescos would remain. However, Daniele da Volterra was later employed to paint over the genetalia in the piece, and thus history remembers him as Il Braghettone - the breeches painter.

Vatican, Michaelangelo, Sistine chapel, The Last Judgement

Michaelangelo himself appears in the piece as a flayed skin. The moral of the story: don't accept commissions from the Vatican.

Vatican, Michaelangelo, Sistine chapel, entire celing

He had more enthusiasm for the celing, done a number of years before The Last Judgement. This is a rough paste-up of several photos of the celing, to give a sense of the entire piece. This is a full-res image, take it into another program for a better look if you want.

Vatican, Sistine chapel, Michaelangelo, God and Adam

There it is, the famous image of God and Adam. I think it's much more interesting with the paintings that Michaelangelo surrounded it with.

Vatican, Sistine chapel, Michaelangelo

There are some odd images in Michaelangelo's collection, too.

Vatican, Sistine chapel, Michaelangelo, Garden of Eden

In addition to more famous works, like Adam and Eve being cast from the Garden of Eden.

Vatican, Sistine chapel, Botticelli, The Punishment of Korah

The chapel is not entirely Michaelangelo's. The frescoes on the long walls are done by other artists. This one is The Punishment of Korah by Sandro Botticelli, and depicts God's punishment of those who rebel against his chosen leaders, an allegory for the protestants who were rejecting the Pope's rule.

We accidently saw the Sistine chapel again a few days later. In an attempt to keep with chronological order, though, those pictures will appear with others from that day's adventures.

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