Painted directly on the ceiling of the sistine chapel in the vatican the masterpiece depicts key scenes from the book of genesis.
Painting on roof of sistine chapel.
In 1508 pope julius ii reigned 1503 1513 hired michelangelo to paint the ceiling of the chapel rather than leaving it appear as it had.
Volta della cappella sistina painted by michelangelo between 1508 and 1512 is a cornerstone work of high renaissance art 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 it was painted at the commission of pope julius ii.
In 1508 ce the pope commissioned the celebrated florentine sculptor and painter michelangelo 1475 1564 ce to paint scenes on the ceiling of the vatican s sistine chapel.
It already contained distinguished wall paintings and michelangelo was asked to add works for the relatively unimportant ceiling.
The complex design includes several sets of individual figures both.
God s creation of the world god s relationship with mankind and mankind s fall from grace.
Peter there in 1482.
The sistine chapel ceiling.
The ceiling of the sistine chapel.
The walls were adorned with frescoes by different artists such as pietro perugino who painted christ delivering the keys to st.
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 sistine chapel ceiling painted by michelangelo between 1508 and 1512 is one of the most renowned artworks of the high renaissance 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 walls of the chapel had already received decoration from some of the greatest of renaissance artists but in four years of toil michelangelo would outshine them all with his ambition and technical skill producing one.
The complex narratives and skillfully painted human figures stunned viewers when the painting was first unveiled to the public in 1512 and continues to impress the thousands of pilgrims and tourists from around the world who visit the chapel every day.
Pope julius ii asked michelangelo to paint the ceiling of the sistine chapel in 1508.
Michelangelo painted the ceiling between 1508 and 1512.
The sistine chapel ceiling italian.
What the sistine chapel is most well known for however is its ceiling.