Sistine Chapel, Rome

Sistine Chapel, Rome

The Sistine Chapel, named after Pope Sixtus IV, is a chapel in the Apostolic Palace where the Papal conclave to elect a new pope is conducted.

The Sistine Chapel, named after Pope Sixtus IV, is a chapel in the Apostolic Palace where the Papal conclave to elect a new pope is conducted. Dedicated to Our Lady of the Assumption, it was built in 1475-'83. It is best known for the breathtaking frescoes that decorate its interiors, the most famous being Michelangelo's 'Last Judgment' on the altar wall. It is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Vatican City, recognized for its deep influence on the development of art from the 16th century.

The rectangular chapel is divided into two parts by a marble screen. The frescoes on the side walls are divided into 3 main tiers, with the central tier featuring paintings on the lives of Moses and Christ. The lower section is painted with trompe l’oeil Damask-like draperies with the pope’s coat of arms, above which Raphael's tapestries were once hung. The upper tier at window-level has the Gallery of Popes - monochromatic niches containing portraits of the early pontiffs from the 1st century to the beginning of the 4th century. The lunettes were painted by Michelangelo with the Ancestors of Christ, tracing the history of mankind before the coming of Christ.

The southern wall has the Stories of Moses series, which includes 'Moses Leaving to Egypt' by Pietro Perugino, 'The Trials of Moses' and 'Punishment of the Rebels' by Sandro Botticelli, and 'Descent from Mount Sinai' by Cosimo. The northern wall showcases the Stories of Jesus, including 'Baptism of Christ' by Pietro Perugino, 'Temptation of Christ' by Sandro Botticelli, 'The Sermon on the Mount' and 'The Last Supper' by Cosimo Rosselli, and 'The Delivery of the Keys' by Pietro Perugino.

The magnificent ceiling was painted by Michelangelo . The central section depicts 9 scenes from the Bible's Book of Genesis – 'The Separation of Light and Darkness', 'The Creation of the Sun, Moon and Earth', 'The Separation of Land and Water', 'The Creation of Adam', 'The Creation of Eve', 'The Temptation and Expulsion', The Sacrifice of Noah', 'The Great Flood', and 'The Drunkenness of Noah'. The 12 pendentives around the central panel feature 12 people associated with the Coming of Christ, comprising 7 Prophets of Israel and 5 Sibyls, who were prophets of the Classical World. The 4 triangular pendentives at the corners feature 4 Biblical scenes associated with the salvation of Israel by Moses, Esther, David and Judith – 'The Brazen Serpent', 'The Punishment of Haman', 'David and Goliath', and 'Judith and Holofernes'. The seminal paintings of life-like human figures on the ceiling have served as a model and inspiration for several generations of future artists.