The Sistine Ceiling

The Sistine Ceiling covers 800 sqm (40 meters long by 13 meters wide) of fresco paints, and 300 painted figures. There are different sizes of the figures, the bigger ones are Prophets and Sibyls and the smaller ones consist on regular nude people. Above the windows the triangular spaces are covered of men and women who wait the birth of the savior and on the four corners are painted with scenes from the Salvation of Israel's people.
This wonderful Ceiling was painted because Pope Julius II told Michelangelo to paint it to add greatness to the name of Julius II. Michelangelo was a sculptor, so why did he paint the ceiling. Michelangelo was making many sculptures for Pope Julius II tomb, Julius II wanted Michelangelo to finish his job. The last time Michelangelo finished painting was when he was learning in Ghirlandaio's workshop. It took him a bit over four years, from July of 1508 to October of 1512 to finish the Sistine Ceiling. Michelangelo didn't lay on his back to paint the ceiling, he constructed a unique scaffolding system that hold workers and materials.
The years it took him on painting that Sistine Ceiling was worth it, because of his work we know now how people thought back then and how many wonderful artists there where in that age. After learning about all the work Michelangelo has been through I want to go to the Sistine and see that vast ceiling he painted.

http://www.italian-renaissance-art.com/Sistine-Ceiling.html
http://arthistory.about.com/od/famous_paintings/a/sischap_ceiling.htm

I could never believe this all came from one persons head. I have seen this fresco paintings. I was super amazed by this whole big room all decorated. Its a real beauty and something worth seeing.

The painting come from biblical tales. I could never imagine someone painting all this. it would have been very tiring to do this.

This is very interesting and I would love to see it one day! It is crazy that Michelangelo himself painted this. Although he had to be on his back for four years painting this he liked his job, even though after a while he got exhausted by it.

A point of clarification: Michelangelo had plenty of help from his apprentices in finishing the Sistine ceiling. The master artist, in this case Michelangelo, would do the most important work first. He'd create the outline of all the figures and details, leaving his understudies take care of filling in most of the color.

The Sistine chapel is an incredible sight to behold. It is covered with artwork by many of the renaissance masters, including the likes of Botticelli and Rafael. A true reflection of the immense creativity of this era as well as the power and grandeur of the Catholic Church.

its amazing how people actually devoted their time to painting these art pieces. They took so much time to do them but in the end they were worth it. I would ove to go to the Sistine Chapel one day and observe these paintings up close.