Sistine Chapel
Pope Sixtus IV ordered the demolition of a ruinous chapel called the Cappella Maggiore in 1473. The old structure had leaning walls and was described as being in a state of disrepair by Andreas of Trebizond. A new building rose on the same site under the supervision of Giovannino de Dolci between 1473 and 1481. Architect Baccio Pontelli designed the exterior to be unadorned, lacking any façade or processional doorways for public entry. The interior became a place where about 200 people gathered daily during the late 15th century. These groups included clerics, Vatican officials, and distinguished laypeople who attended mass fifty times each year. On the 15th of August 1483, Sixtus IV celebrated the first mass inside the completed space. That ceremony consecrated the chapel and dedicated it to the Virgin Mary.
Domenico Ghirlandaio, Sandro Botticelli, Pietro Perugino, Cosimo Rosselli, and their workshops began work on the side walls in the spring of 1481. Pope Sixtus IV commissioned these frescoes depicting the Life of Moses and the Life of Christ in 1480. The project likely served as a reconciliation effort between Lorenzo de' Medici and the Pope. Botticelli painted scenes such as The Trials of Moses and Punishment of the Rebels on the southern wall. Perugino executed works including Baptism of Christ and The Delivery of the Keys on the northern wall. A gallery of popes ran above the narrative cycles while lunettes containing Ancestors of Christ sat around window arches. The lower level featured frescoed hangings in silver and gold that mimicked fabric drapery. All these paintings were finished by 1482 before Michelangelo ever touched the ceiling.
Pope Julius II commissioned Michelangelo to repaint the vault in 1508 despite the artist's reluctance. Michelangelo felt he was primarily a sculptor and viewed the painting task as a distraction from his marble work. Architect Donato Bramante initially proposed a scaffold suspended by ropes but failed to complete it successfully. Michelangelo built his own flat wooden platform supported by brackets extending from holes near the top of the windows. He worked standing up rather than lying down as popular belief suggests. The painted area spans about 40 meters long by 13 meters wide covering well over 500 square meters. He painted nine stories from Genesis, twelve prophets, and ancestors of Christ across more than three hundred figures. The work concluded between 1508 and late 1512 under papal patronage.
Michelangelo painted The Last Judgment on the altar wall between 1535 and 1541 for Pope Paul III Farnese. This massive fresco replaced earlier scenes including the Nativity of Jesus and the Finding of Moses. Biagio da Cesena called the nude figures disgraceful and claimed they belonged in public baths or taverns instead of a sacred space. Michelangelo incorporated Cesenas likeness into the scene as Minos, judge of the underworld. Daniele da Volterra later covered the genitalia with breeches earning him the nickname Il Braghettone. A censorship campaign known as the Fig-Leaf Campaign targeted the frescoes following accusations of immorality. The painting depicts Christ judging souls while demons drag others to hell at the bottom right corner.
The first conclave held within the Sistine Chapel took place from 6 to the 11th of August 1492 electing Pope Alexander VI. Chimneys installed during conclaves signal results through smoke color where white indicates election and black signals failure. Chemical additives help create specific colors for both types of smoke emissions. Cardinals now lodge at Domus Sanctae Marthae since 1996 but continue voting inside the chapel itself. Electronic jamming equipment sits beneath raised wooden floors to prevent message transmission during secrecy periods. Seagulls have been observed near the chimney during conclaves in 2013 and 2025 drawing social media attention. Canopies once signified equal dignity before being abolished by Paul VI due to overcrowding issues.
Restoration work on the ceiling began on the 7th of November 1984 and reopened to the public on the 8th of April 1994. Chemists decided to strip away all shadowy layers including animal glue, lamp black, wax, and overpainted areas as contamination. They believed Michelangelo worked exclusively in buon fresco without returning later to add details onto dry plaster. The emergence of brightly colored Ancestors of Christ sparked fear that cleaning processes were too severe. Critics argued the restoration removed original intent while others claimed it revealed true artistic vision. The debate continues regarding whether the techniques used preserved or altered Michelangelo's universal approach to painting.
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Common questions
Who ordered the construction of the Sistine Chapel and when did it begin?
Pope Sixtus IV ordered the demolition of a ruinous chapel called the Cappella Maggiore in 1473. A new building rose on the same site under the supervision of Giovannino de Dolci between 1473 and 1481.
When was the first mass celebrated inside the completed Sistine Chapel?
On the 15th of August 1483, Sixtus IV celebrated the first mass inside the completed space. That ceremony consecrated the chapel and dedicated it to the Virgin Mary.
What dates did Michelangelo work on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel?
The work concluded between 1508 and late 1512 under papal patronage. Pope Julius II commissioned Michelangelo to repaint the vault in 1508 despite the artist's reluctance.
How long did Michelangelo take to paint The Last Judgment on the altar wall of the Sistine Chapel?
Michelangelo painted The Last Judgment on the altar wall between 1535 and 1541 for Pope Paul III Farnese. This massive fresco replaced earlier scenes including the Nativity of Jesus and the Finding of Moses.
When did restoration work begin on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel and when did it reopen to the public?
Restoration work on the ceiling began on the 7th of November 1984 and reopened to the public on the 8th of April 1994. Chemists decided to strip away all shadowy layers including animal glue, lamp black, wax, and overpainted areas as contamination.