The Sistine Chapel in the Vatican is not only a famous religious building, but also hosts some world-famous and priceless works. This chapel, whose full name is Cappella Sistina, took its name from Pope Sixtus IV, who built it. It was completed between 1477-1480.
It was decorated by the greatest artists of the Renaissance period, Michelangelo, Sandro Botticelli, Pietro Perugino, Pinturicchio and others. The most well-known are Michelangelo's ceiling frescoes. The Sistine Chapel is considered one of Michelangelo's most important works. He worked for four years to complete the ceiling and finished it in 1512. The ceiling depicts scenes from the Bible's Book of Genesis. Michelangelo portrayed figures with incredible mastery while dealing with themes such as creation, the rise and fall of humanity. The ceiling is located under a large dome of nine bays and is covered with frescoes depicting the biblical creation story.
One of the most striking parts of the ceiling is the scene of God giving life to Adam. Michelangelo depicted this scene through two hands almost touching each other. This depiction is considered a symbolic expression of creation in human history.
Other chapters contain other important elements of the creation story: the expulsion of Adam and Eve from paradise, the construction of Noah's Ark, and the Great Flood.
Michelangelo's mastery in these frescoes is known for his attention to detail in the anatomy of human figures, dramatic expressions and movements.
