Painting the Sistine Chapel (Vasari)

Ceiling of the Sistine Chapel by Michelangelo
Picture taken by Cava H.

The Sistine Chapel was built by Pope Sixtus IV in the Vatican palace. In memory of his uncle Sixtus, Pope Julius II asked Michelangelo to paint the vault of the Sistine chapel. Michelangelo did not welcome this task, and tried to recommend others for the job. He considered painting the vault a difficult task, and preferred to continue to work on Julius II's tomb. The more he refused, the more the pope insisted that Michelangelo paint the ceiling. In order to reach the ceiling, Michelangelo built his own scaffolding on poles which did not touch the wall. Vasari stated that the “frescoes were done with the greatest discomfort, for he had to stand there working with his head tilted backwards, and it damaged his eyesight so much that he could no longer read or look at drawings if his head was not tilted backwards.” Michelangelo painted figures in various poses, some holding garlands of oak and acorn leaves representing the coat of arms and insignia of Pope Julius II. According to Vasari, the “work has been and truly is the beacon of our art, and it has brought such benefit and enlightenment to the art of painting.”