Why it matters
Painted in fresco by Michelangelo between 1508 and 1512, the Sistine Chapel ceiling is a cornerstone of High Renaissance art. Its centre shows nine scenes from Genesis, including The Creation of Adam, surrounded by figures that let Michelangelo show the human body in every possible pose.
Did you know?
- The chapel was built between 1477 and 1480 by Pope Sixtus IV, after whom it is named.
- Its walls had already been painted by Botticelli, Ghirlandaio and Perugino.
- The most recent restoration took place from 1980 to 1994.
Based on the Wikipedia article Sistine Chapel ceiling (CC BY-SA 4.0).
