Michelangelo: Sistine Chapel Ceiling: Paintings and Pictures

The Sistine Chapel Ceiling

Built between 1475 and 1483, in the time of Pope Sixtus IV, the Sistine Chapel is rectangular in shape and measures 40.93 meters long by 13.41 meters wide, i.e. the exact dimensions of the Temple of Solomon, in Jerusalem. It is 20.70 meters high and is roofed by a flattened barrel vault, with little side vaults over the centered windows. The architectural plans were made by Baccio Pontelli and the construction work was supervised by Giovannino de' Dolci. The first Mass in the Sistine Chapel was celebrated on August 9, 1483. The wall paintings were executed by Pietro Perugino, Sandro Botticelli, Domenico Ghirlandaio, Cosimo Rosselli, Luca Signorelli and others.

Michelangelo Buonarroti was commissioned by Pope Julius II in 1508 to repaint the ceiling; the work was completed between 1508 and 1512.

The photograph below of the Sistine Chapel Ceiling is in fact an image map, linked to photographs of its principal panels depicting the story of the Creation and Fall. By scrolling your cursor from the top to the bottom this image, you will be able to move to a larger image of that ceiling panel. Then hit the back key to return to the image map, or hit "next" to continue exploring the individual panels. (Note that the chronological order is reversed with the creation story beginning at the "bottom" of this image, and subsequent events appearing toward the top.)

Charles Henderson

Please take a moment to let us know you were here!
Just send us an email to

Email Charles Henderson at The GodWeb

If you want to talk with someone in person, please feel free to call 917-439-2305

The Rev. Charles P. Henderson is a Presbyterian minister and is the author of God and Science (John Knox Press, 1986).
A revised and expanded version of the book is appearing here.
God and Science (Hypertext Edition, 2015).
He is also editor of a new book, featuring articles by world class scientists and theologians, and illustrating the leading views on the relationship between science and religion:
Faith, Science and the Future (CrossCurrents Press, 2017).

Charles also tracks the boundry between the virtual and the real at his blog: Next World Design, focusing on the mediation of art, science and spirituality in the metaverse.

For more information about Charles Henderson.