The smallest country in the world (Art edition)

Entrance to the Sistine Chapel. No photos allowed inside!

The Vatican City is the smallest country in the world, and that’s exactly where we were yesterday! The Vatican City is located in Rome. It is dubbed the “Heart of Rome”. It is only half a square kilometre.

Dome of Saint Peter's Church, looking from the Vatican Museum

The Vatican City is the home of the Pope, the famous St Peter’s Basilica, the Sistine chapel, the Vatican Museum and much more famous Catholic stuff. 

Sculptures within the Vatican Museum

Dad and I explored the Vatican Museum and Sistine Chapel with our guide, Roberta. The museum is where the collections of past Popes are displayed. The Sistine chapel is where each Pope is elected. The museum has everything from Contemporary to Aboriginal art. We only focused on the Italian art though. 

Ceiling painted in 2D but looks 3D

Michaelangelo (the artist, not the ninja turtle) probably contributed the most famous stuff to the museum. He was a sculptor, architect, painter, and a poet that lived in the 1500s. The Pope at the time once asked him to paint all the fresco paintings in the Sistine Chapel. A "fresco" is when you paint on wet plaster and the colours soak in better. Since he was a sculptor mainly and not a painter by choice, his style was more muscular and dynamic compared to the classic church art.

Painting by Rafael of Roman Emperor Constantine fighting to capture Rome

Michaelangelo painted the creation of light and dark, creation of the sun and moon, creation of man, the final judgement and other biblical scenes. 

Delicate tapestry woven in Belgium showing Jesus coming alive again

The most famous artwork in the Sistine chapel was the “creation of man”. Sorry no photos allowed so we don't have a copy to show here. But the fresco shows God is reaching out and giving life to a lifeless Adam. Adam’s body looks way more ripped then it should for a lifeless blob. This artwork was not as interesting to me for some reason. I preferred the “final judgement” painting more because it was more unconventional.

One of the Roman Emperors

The Final Judgement painting by Michaelangelo was unique in many ways:

First, he used faces or bodies from other statues from ancient artists. For example, Jesus Christ is posed in the same way as a statue of Apollo in a different part of the museum. 

Second, usually in churches the cross is held up by angels, but in the Final Judgement Michaelangelo painted the cross held up by men.

Third, everyone is naked! In most churches everyone is clothed. Michaelangelo said this is because God judges you how you are, not how you dress or pretend to be. This was so insulting that the painted people were painted over with clothes later, after Michaelangelo had died. Later museum staff restored half of the clothed paintings to their original “glory”.

Finally, Mary is looking away from Jesus, unlike everyone else. This is because Mary, the moderator between mankind and God, cannot do anything to help us on the day of judgement.

"Trinity" painted by Rafael showing Father (God) above, the Son (Jesus) in the middle and the Holy Spirit (Dove) below.

The Vatican Museum was definitely impressive. If you want to learn more about what else is in the Vatican City then look it up. I’m tired.

Thanks for reading! And until next time, in Michaelangelo’s eyes, naked > clothed.