When visitors first step into the Sistine Chapel and gaze upward, they are struck silent. Above them, Michelangelo's frescoes stretch across the ceiling like a divine thunderclap frozen in time. Often labeled the greatest artwork in history, the ceiling’s sheer scale and beauty are overwhelming.
But what exactly are we looking at? What do these figures mean? Michelangelo wasn’t simply illustrating the Bible when he painted the ceiling in the early 16th century: he was composing a visual theology, a humanist epic, and a spiritual riddle. He layered symbolism within the colors of his art, and embedded meaning in every brush stroke.
The paintings that adorn the Sistine Chapel ceiling are meant to evoke questions of who we as humans are in the grand scheme of life, and what we might become. Click through this gallery to find out more.