Celebrating Michelangelo's Sistine Chapel

On November 1, 1512, Michelangelo's frescoes on the vaulted ceiling of the Sistine Chapel in Rome were first shown to the public. The Renaissance artist Michelangelo spent four years painting the detailed Biblical scenes. In 1980, amidst great public outcry, preservationists began cleaning away the dirt and soot that had darkened the frescoes. When the restoration was completed in 1994, many people were astonished to see what brilliant colors Michelangelo had used. Some critics questioned whether the "restoration" was historically accurate.

• About the Renaissance
• About Michelangelo's Frescoes
• Photos of the Sistine Chapel Frescoes
• Trompe l'oeil Painting

_{Above: Detail from Michelangelo's Sistine Chapel Frescoes, photo © Fotopress/Getty Images}

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