The Sistine Chapel

Today Ro and I went to see the recreation of the Sistine Chapel ceiling in the Trafford Center.  It was done on huge boards and we each had a little gadget to listen to a description of the image you are looking at.  This really brought it all to life, but so many facts!  

Michelangelo was such a fantastic painter!  The conditions in which he painted were so hard. Standing craning his neck to paint above his head for the ceiling and paint falling on him.  His naked bodies are so accurate!  In the last judgement scene they caused offence in a church and Daniele da Volterra, a student of Michelangelo's  was commissioned to 'fix' the fresco.
"His job? To make the indecent Last Judgment more modest and demure, getting rid of its aggravating nudity.
Paintbrush in hand, Volterra covered the offending genital bits with loincloths, veils, and draperies — effectively putting underpants on many figures. This paint job earned him the sobriquet of il braghettone, or the britches-maker."    
Interesting article!!

I have added a couple more photos in extras.
First: a part of the great flood. Michelangelo depicts  the people left behind; some fighting and some helping each other.  Behind is the ark a haven of safety.
The second is God making the sun and moon in one gesture. 
The third  Is one of the 5 Sibyls portrayed. The Libyan Sibyl: a graceful young woman.
The final  is the Erythraean sibyl .  I love the way the folds are painted and the yellows used for the lighter areas and the greens for the shadows.

A great insight into the work but wear a warm coat!  It's slow going as you listen to all the explanations and it gets cold!!  At the end there are a few short films that are great!