The Sistine Chapel is known to be the Cappella Sistina in Italian. Its name has been lifted from Pope Sixtus IV. He was the one who commissioned it. In Italy, Sixtus is Sisto. There are almost 25,000 people there on a daily basis. In a year, this sums to almost five million. These are the people visiting the place. There are tons of Sistine Chapel facts that have to be learned. Going to the Vatican Museums would be a great experience for any one. There is an annual cost for this.
The dimensions of the Sisto’s chapel are the same with that of the Old Testament. It also resembles that of the Temple of Solomon which is situated on Jerusalem’s Temple Mount. The first mass to be conducted on the place happened in August 15, 1483. Outside, the chapel may be relatively plain. This has been a crucial part of the building process. There is no adornment used for the high and block rectangular brick. There is also no grand façade. This is also true with processional entrance in the door. The entry points are all just internal. These come from the Papal Palace.
With the aforementioned, The Capella Sistina would always serve as the private chapel of the pope whenever they are in Vatican. There is a division perceived in the chapel. Usually, a screen, or a transenna is utilized for this. This may be two-thirds down in order for the pope and his entourage to be separated from each other. This is how the rest of the congregation is put into an area.
The chapel will not be as famous and majestic as it is today without the Michaelangel’s frescoes. Prior to Michealangle, Sisto took charge in commissioning the painters like Botticelli for the two long walls found on the chapel. The first side is about the story of Moses. The other speaks about the story of Jesus Christ. Even if the work of Michaelangelo is not seen in it, most of the earlier paintings would definitely represent the greatest fresco cycles perceived in Europe.
In the year 1508, Michaelangelo was commissioned by the pope. He was named Julius II. This is the nephew of then Sixtus IV. The English word which is termed nepotism was derived from an original phrase Italian nipote. This really means nephew. This happened because of the practice of the papal about favoring most relations. Usually, their nephews are really their son.
There were so many plans devised by Julius II. These were all for the Sistine Chapel frescoes. There were also images obtaining twelve Apostles. The idea was dismissed though because it was looked as a poor thing. It was not really that highly favored.
Before the work of Michaelangelo, the ceiling features a night sky. This was depicted. It began as a simple vault with a number of gold stars. These were done by Umbrian artist, Piero Matteo d’Amelia. These are the interesting facts about the chapel.