Frescoes in the Sistine Chapel
by MICHELANGELO

Michelangelo was commissioned by Pope Julius II della Rovere in 1508 to repaint the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel frescoed earlier by Piero Matteo d'Amelia with a star-spangled sky. The work was completed between 1508 and 1512. He painted the Last Judgement over the altar, between 1535 and 1541, being commissioned by Pope Paul III Farnese. This monumental fresco covers the entire end wall of the chapel which led the obliteration of the frescoes painted at the time of Sixtus IV: the first figures of the popes, the first two scenes of the life of Christ and life of Moses, the image of the Virgin of Assumption (by Perugino), together with the first two lunettes, representing the Ancestors of Christ frescoed earlier by Michelangelo himself. The two large windows set into the altar wall were closed up.

Preview Picture Data File Info Comment
Interior of the Sistine Chapel
1475-83, 1508-12, 1535-41
Frescoes
Cappella Sistina, Vatican

860*1155
True Color
207 Kb



Interior of the Sistine Chapel
1475-83, 1508-12, 1535-41
Frescoes
Cappella Sistina, Vatican

889*1050
True Color
200 Kb



Interior of the Sistine Chapel
1475-83, 1508-12
Frescoes
Cappella Sistina, Vatican

1055*880
True Color
195 Kb



Reconstruction of the interior
1480s
Frescoes
Cappella Sistina, Vatican

962*680
Grayscale
165 Kb



Interior of the Sistine Chapel
1475-83, 1508-12
Frescoes
Cappella Sistina, Vatican

1081*1074
True Color
186 Kb



The ceiling
1508-12
Fresco
Cappella Sistina, Vatican

603*1719
True Color
196 Kb



The ceiling
1508-12
Fresco
Cappella Sistina, Vatican

900*1183
True Color
217 Kb



The ceiling
1508-12
Fresco
Cappella Sistina, Vatican

1719*603
True Color
196 Kb



The ceiling (detail)
1508-12
Fresco
Cappella Sistina, Vatican

1440*444
True Color
164 Kb



The ceiling (detail)
1508-12
Fresco
Cappella Sistina, Vatican

1240*530
True Color
179 Kb



The ceiling (detail)
1508-12
Fresco
Cappella Sistina, Vatican

1248*550
True Color
159 Kb



Lunette and Popes
1475-83, 1508-12
Fresco
Cappella Sistina, Vatican

813*1100
True Color
151 Kb



Detail of the wall decoration
1475-83, 1508-12
Fresco
Cappella Sistina, Vatican

850*1012
True Color
203 Kb



Exterior of the Sistine Chapel
1475-83
Photo
Cappella Sistina, Vatican

702*880
True Color
126 Kb



Exterior of the Sistine Chapel
1475-83
Drawing
Cappella Sistina, Vatican

705*837
Grayscale
140 Kb




Summary of works by Michelangelo
All genres
Sculptures | Paintings | Sistine Chapel | Drawings | Architecture
Sculptures
-1501 | 1502- | David | Julius II's Tomb | Medici Tomb | Pietŕs
Paintings
Easel paintings | Frescoes in Pauline Chapel
Sistine Chapel
Division of the ceiling | Genesis | Prophets | Sibyls | Ignudi
Spandrels | Lunettes | Triangles | Medallions
Last Judgment
Architecture
until 1530 | after 1530