It's one of the most beautiful movies ever made in terms of sets and costumes, not to mention the gorgeous Italian countryside. Not to be missed on the way to the Sistine Chapel : Raphael rooms, Museo Pio Clementino, Appartamento Borgia, Museo Gregoriano, Etrusco (take some time to read the labels)Ħ.This film was nominated for best art direction and set decoration in 1966, and it's unbelievable to think that it didn't win (it lost to Dr. In fact, in places like this, having a guide would be really nice.ĥ. But NOTHING is wrong with having a licensed guide. You may watch again the Agony and Ecstasy of Michelangelo.Ĥ. Read as many articles regarding the Sistine Chapel. There are several people selling free tours and hassle-free entrance.ģ. Tour groups will be coming by 9am and the whole Vatican Museum will be crowded.Ģ. The ceiling was done in between 1536-1541.ġ. Michelangelo was part of the training program of the Medici Family when he was 13.ĭ. The Sistine Chapel was his fist-ever fresco and a damn good one!ĭ. Pope Julius II commissioned Michelangelo to paint the ceiling of the Sistine ChapelĬ. Notice the different approach Michelangelo did.ī. The Last Judgment was completed 30 years after ceiling. Michelangelo seemed to be a kindred spirit, a simple man simply following his dreams, and most importantly a genuine, fearless spirit that defies even the Catholic papacy.Ī. The heart knows a masterpiece the first time he sees one, and the heart keeps that memory for a long, long time. I may not have had the same goosebumps every time I stand in the middle of the Sistine Chapel, but my heart felt his pain, from David to Pieta and to the making of the Last Judgment. The man died a long time ago but his works of art are still the talk of the town. But even now after 500 years, nobody could come up with a logical answer as to the true meaning of his frescoes and the true purpose of Michelangelo. But he underwent such pain that every time the Pope asked when would the ceiling be finished, Michelangelo like in the movie would shout “Soon!!” and not to be disturbed again.Īs you go deeper into each of his frescoes, guides and historians would found traces of Michelangelo’s anger towards the Catholic Church. But like a true artist as he was, Michelangelo took the job. Conspiracy theories arose that perhaps they were waiting for his failure and no way could he paint fresco on the ceiling. But to be commissioned to paint the Sistine Chapel was deemed an insult by Michelangelo. In my next post, I would tackle his passion, the making of David (currently on display at Florence’s Accademia) from single block of Cararra marble and the equally famous Pieta. In hindsight we knew how much of an uber talented sculptor Michelangelo was. I was just in awe, and questioned how could such a person possibly do that. I remember the first time I stood in the middle of this King Solomon Temple-inspired Chapel, the characters seemed to be jutting out from the ceiling. Michelangelo, in spite of the riot of colors, seemed to have mastered the different angles, perspectives and light that everything was coherent to one single theme. The fresco has to be applied quickly otherwise the rich color will be gone and one needs to repaint again, or worse, chisels out that part thereby causing a lot of time and money. With the unevenness of the ceiling, curving downward and some spandrels above the windows, the fresh plaster or fresco or buon fresco that Michelangelo used has to beat time. In fact, his eyes lost the ability to look downward, especially when reading books that he had to lift it up. It was simply the most arduous task he had to face. In the movie adaptation of John Irving’s Agony and Ecstasy, the young Michelangelo was seen in scaffolding looking up, arm over his head painting. Indeed to so many artists and painters all over the world, Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel was deemed to be very difficult to paint. It has been said by the one of the greatest German poet Johann Wolfgang von Goethe “ Without having seen the Sistine Chapel one can form no appreciable idea of what man is capable of“.
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