Twenty-five years after Michelangelo painted his masterpiece the: ‘Ceiling of the Sistine Chapel’, and after a long, successful period working for the Medici family in Florence, he returned to the Vatican to work. He was welcomed by Pope Clement VII who commissioned him to paint a new fresco on the altar wall of the Sistine Chapel. A fresco is a technique of using wet paint on a freshly plastered wall so that it blends into the plastered surface. He had used that same technique years earlier when lying on his back painting the Chapel ceiling. Soon after the commissioning, the Pope died, but his successor Pope Paul III, had the work continue until finished. It began in 1534 and ended seven years later when Michelangelo was 67. That painting: ‘The Last Judgment’ shows the Second Coming of Jesus Christ and mankind being judged by God. It was a popular subject for an artist during the Renaissance period; and Giotto who is thought to be the father of the Renaissance had painted his version for the Scrovegni Chapel in Padova, Italy. However Michelangelo’s unique style made the painting very controversial and it was both loved and hated when it was finished. The painting has over 300 figures with Christ sitting in the middle with his hand raised in judgment over the damned that are sinking into Hell. A Greek and Roman mythological character is taking souls to Hell in a boat and Hell is full of ghouls. Christ has rippling muscles and sits next to a sedate Virgin Mary looking at those people who have been saved. Michelangelo apparently painted his own face on Saint Bartholomew sitting on a cloud just below Christ’s left foot. The figure of the Saint has skin in his hand because he was martyred after being skinned alive. There is another figure with donkey ears (representing foolishness) and with a snake wrapped around him biting his private parts. The face of Pope Paul lll’s Master of Ceremonies Biagio da Cesena was painted on Minos the mythological judge in Hell because he probably angered Michelangelo.. Da Cesena complained but Pope Paul III instead joked that his power did not extend to Hell, so the portrait had to stay as is. Many viewers of the fresco were not happy with the mythology mixed with religious figures and the large amount of nudity. But others appreciated the artistry and genius of the painting style. In 1563 the Church installed new reforms on religious art and probably after Michelangelo’s death a painter covered up the naked private parts of the figures with drapery. About 40 figures were altered with painted drapery and two figures were completely repainted. Since the modifications were done later in dry fresco, they were easier to remove when the Sistine Chapel was restored in the 1990s. Fifteen drapery coverings were removed but some were left in place to help explain the history of the artwork. Today most art critics consider the work a masterpiece. Coming to San Francisco in September, 2021 is an exhibition of the pictures of Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel. Using licensed high definition photos and a special printing technique it is said that it will be possible to see every detail, every brushstroke, and every color of the 34 Michelangelo’s frescoes, including ‘The last Judgment’ of the exhibition. The exhibit promoters write that “whether visitors have already been to the Sistine Chapel or not, everyone can admire the artwork up close, at their own pace, and with the ability to capture photographic memories of this iconic work. The entire experience will last about 60 to 90 minutes, and is set to take place at an exciting secret San Francisco venue
