Sistine Chapel
Viale Vaticano Roma Roma
Commissioned by Pope Sixtus IV in the late 15th century, the Sistine Chapel was designed by Baccio Pontelli and built between 1473 and 1481 under the direction of Giovannino de Dolci. Pope Sixtus IV desired to have a private chapel where he could celebrate Mass undisturbed by the public. His second intention was to have a space to hold conclaves to elect future popes. It was consecrated and dedicated to the Virgin Mary upon completion. The first Mass was celebrated on August 15, 1483, the Feast of the Assumption of Mary.
The ceiling was orinally painted as a starry blue night sky, but the chapel underwent renovations under Pope Julius II. He commissioned Michelangelo to paint the Sistine Chapel ceiling although the artist had never professionally painted in fresco. Michelangelo was notably displeased with the commission and signed the contract as "Michelangelo: The Sculptor". Legend has it that the architect of St. Peter's Basilica, Bramante, advised Pope Julius II to hire Michelangelo for the work thinking he would fail. Michelangelo instead delivered an artistic masterpiece that would become one of the keyworks of the Italian Renaissance and amaze visitors and pilgrims for generations still to this day. He began the work on May 12th, 1508, and Mass was celebrated four years later to inaugurate the completion of the ceiling's fresco on October 31st, 1512.
The paintings throughout the Sistine Chapel were delivered not just by Michelangelo but also by the Renaissance artists such as Pietro Perugino, Sandro Botticelli, Domenico Ghirlandaio, and Cosimo Rosselli. Through their artistic perspectives and styles, they share the message of the Old and New Testament: from the Creation Story to the Life of Jesus Christ and His 12 Apostles, and finally the Last Judgement.
360 VR Tour provided by the Vatican Museums