Sistine Chapel Exhibition Opens in Florida

This traveling exhibition offers a unique perspective on works Michelangelo created under duress. Pope Julius II commissioned the artist to paint the chapel ceiling in 1508; Michelangelo, who considered himself a sculptor, initially resisted the massive undertaking. It took him and his assistants four and a half years to complete the ceiling frescoes. The ceiling's nine central panels depict scenes from the Book of Genesis, including the iconic "Creation of Adam." Decades later, between 1535 and 1541, Michelangelo returned to paint the monumental fresco "The Last Judgment" on the chapel's altar wall for Pope Paul III. The original chapel in Vatican City draws 5 to 6 million people annually, with up to 20,000 visitors per day. This high volume of traffic creates conservation challenges, as the dust and humidity brought in by visitors can damage the delicate frescoes. To create this exhibition, which has been touring since 2015, organizers used licensed high-definition photographs of the 34 frescoes. A special printing technique allows the life-sized reproductions to emulate the look and feel of the original paintings. Unlike in the Vatican, where the paintings are 68 feet high, this exhibit places the masterpieces at eye level. This allows visitors to examine the details of Michelangelo's brushwork in a way not possible in Rome. Visitors to the exhibition are also permitted to take photographs. Photography is strictly forbidden inside the actual Sistine Chapel to protect the artwork and maintain a reverent atmosphere.