Happy Anniversary Michelangelo!

Today marks a fun day in history – Nov 1, 1512, when Michelangelo invited folks to finally view his amazing work on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel at the Vatican. Can you imagine being a local resident, knowing he had worked on the project for four years, and finally walking in to see this masterpiece? Talk about a PIA (Pain in the #%$) Job! – WOW! So much more than “just another local art show,” Michelangelo and his work on the Sistine Chapel ceiling are considered iconic symbols of the Renaissance, embodying one of the most remarkable achievements in Western art. I’m amazed at how beautiful the images are – especially from a guy who struggles drawing stick figures. I researched the project (tons has been written) and tried to pick info I think you’ll find interesting and enlightening. Special thanks to Wikipedia.org, google, YouTube.com, and pivata.com for the info – enjoy!  And if you’ve had the chance to visit firsthand, please share your experience (it’s on my bucket list).

Michelangelo Buonarroti was primarily a sculptor, not a painter, famous for masterpieces such as the marble statue of David and Pietà. When Pope Julius II commissioned him to paint the Sistine Chapel ceiling in 1508, the artist was initially reluctant, as fresco painting wasn’t his expertise, considering it a distraction from what he saw as his true calling, sculpture.

Pope Julius II’s original commission was not as grand as the final product. Michelangelo was initially tasked with painting the Twelve Apostles and some decorative elements around the edge. However, known for his ambition and innovative thinking, he convinced the Pope to allow him to expand the project, resulting in an intricate fresco covering over 5,000 square feet of ceiling space.

Michelangelo painted the Sistine Chapel ceiling while lying on his back on scaffolding for four years (1508-1512). Contrary to popular belief, Michelangelo did not lie flat on his back but worked in an uncomfortable standing position with his neck craned upwards. The strain caused his eyesight and physical health to deteriorate. He once wrote a humorous poem describing the discomfort, saying he had “grown a goiter” from the awkward posture.

The Sistine Chapel ceiling is not a single scene but a vast array of biblical narratives. The most famous section is The Creation of Adam, which shows God reaching out to give life to the first man. Michelangelo depicted nine central scenes from the Book of Genesis, surrounded by prophets, sibyls, and the ancestors of Christ, as well as smaller scenes of biblical heroes and stories.

In preparing to paint the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel, a debate arose between Bramante (an architect and painter) and Michelangelo about how to design the scaffolding necessary to proceed with the project. The pope ordered Bramante to build the scaffolding to paint the ceiling. Bramante did so by piercing the ceiling and hanging everything from ropes; upon seeing this, Michelangelo asked Bramante how, once the painting had been completed, he would be able to fill the holes; and Bramante replied, ‘We’ll worry about that later’. (another PIA Job!)

Working largely in isolation, he was known to be extremely secretive about his work, even refusing to let others see it before completion, partly due to his fear of rivals like Raphael, who were active in Rome at the time. Most often he worked alone without assistants, further illustrating his determination and perfectionism.

Michelangelo used the fresco technique, in which paint is applied to wet plaster, making the artwork part of the wall itself, a time-consuming and technically demanding process, as the artist has to work quickly before the plaster dried. Primarily a sculptor, not a painter, he had little experience with fresco painting. Despite this, Michelangelo’s sculptural background helped him render his figures with an extraordinary sense of three-dimensionality and physicality, giving the paintings their signature power.

The content Michelangelo chose, particularly scenes from the Book of Genesis (e.g., The Creation of Adam, The Fall of Man), was highly appropriate for a religious space. These stories underscored the theological principles of sin, redemption, and humanity’s relationship with God, key themes in Christian doctrine.

After completing the ceiling, Michelangelo didn’t return to the Sistine Chapel until the 1530s when Pope Clement VII commissioned him to paint The Last Judgment on the chapel’s altar wall. This massive fresco, depicting Christ’s Second Coming and the final judgment of souls, is one of Michelangelo’s darkest and most powerful works, showing the spiritual concerns of his later life.

The naked figures in The Last Judgment caused significant controversy when it was unveiled in 1541. The Catholic Church deemed some of the nudes inappropriate for a place of worship. In response to this criticism, another artist, Daniele da Volterra, was hired to paint draperies over the genitalia of the figures. He became known as “Il Braghettone,” or “the breeches maker,” for his alterations.

Over the centuries, soot, grime, and candle smoke darkened the once-vivid colors of the Sistine Chapel ceiling. A major restoration project between 1980 and 1994 revealed Michelangelo’s original vibrant palette, with colors far more brilliant than anyone had expected. 

The Sistine Chapel remains one of the most important religious spaces in Christendom. As the private chapel of the Pope and the site of key religious ceremonies, including papal conclaves, its decoration needed to reflect the spiritual and political authority of the Church. Michelangelo’s frescoes elevated the chapel’s importance by visually narrating the creation story and God’s covenant with humanity.