THE SISTINE CHAPEL
2 lectures on audio CD (no video)
tourist route through western Europe, the fate and fame of the
Sistine Chapel were far from secure throughout most of its
history. It was constructed by Pope Sixtus IV in 1477 because he
wanted a chapel that was not in an advanced state of decay (like
most of the other buildings in Rome) and that he could also use
as a defensive redoubt from the mobs of the city. The upper
portions of the original chapel collapsed early on and were
hastily mortared up for appearances’ sake. The greatest names
of the day (Perugino, Botticelli, Ghirlandaio, Rosselli, et al.) were
commissioned to fresco the walls of the shaky structure.
To fresco the chapel ceiling Pope Julius II contracted a
temperamental artist, Michelangelo Buonarroti, who claimed that
he was not versed in the art of fresco, and he wasn’t. His first
attempt was disastrous. But despite regular altercations between
Pope and artist, Michelangelo managed to complete the project a
good four months before Julius died.
When Rome was sacked by the troops of Charles V in 1527, the
Sistine Chapel came within a hair’s breadth of being destroyed.
In 1535 the sixty-year-old Michelangelo was summoned back to
paint The Last Judgment, a work that, at the time, was hailed a
masterpiece, but only by some. Within a few years of its
completion the prelates of the Roman Church were debating
whether to rip it from the walls or not.
Having survived mildew, wars, and inquisitions, Michelangelo’s
work was finally subjected to well-intentioned and horrific
attempts at preservation and restoration (coating with wax,
washing with retsina). But the most recent restoration returned it
as close as possible to what it may have looked like when
Michelangelo finished it.
In this two-lecture series we will discuss the history of the chapel
and examine the theological, philosophical, and artistic forces
that lay behind this Renaissance masterpiece.
These lectures are available only in CD format (audio only). A
course syllabus with extensive lecture notes, plans, and
elevations is provided.
511 CD. 2 lectures on CD (audio only, no images) $16.00.
Price includes shipping and handling.
2 lectures on audio CD (no video)
tourist route through western Europe, the fate and fame of the
Sistine Chapel were far from secure throughout most of its
history. It was constructed by Pope Sixtus IV in 1477 because he
wanted a chapel that was not in an advanced state of decay (like
most of the other buildings in Rome) and that he could also use
as a defensive redoubt from the mobs of the city. The upper
portions of the original chapel collapsed early on and were
hastily mortared up for appearances’ sake. The greatest names
of the day (Perugino, Botticelli, Ghirlandaio, Rosselli, et al.) were
commissioned to fresco the walls of the shaky structure.
To fresco the chapel ceiling Pope Julius II contracted a
temperamental artist, Michelangelo Buonarroti, who claimed that
he was not versed in the art of fresco, and he wasn’t. His first
attempt was disastrous. But despite regular altercations between
Pope and artist, Michelangelo managed to complete the project a
good four months before Julius died.
When Rome was sacked by the troops of Charles V in 1527, the
Sistine Chapel came within a hair’s breadth of being destroyed.
In 1535 the sixty-year-old Michelangelo was summoned back to
paint The Last Judgment, a work that, at the time, was hailed a
masterpiece, but only by some. Within a few years of its
completion the prelates of the Roman Church were debating
whether to rip it from the walls or not.
Having survived mildew, wars, and inquisitions, Michelangelo’s
work was finally subjected to well-intentioned and horrific
attempts at preservation and restoration (coating with wax,
washing with retsina). But the most recent restoration returned it
as close as possible to what it may have looked like when
Michelangelo finished it.
In this two-lecture series we will discuss the history of the chapel
and examine the theological, philosophical, and artistic forces
that lay behind this Renaissance masterpiece.
These lectures are available only in CD format (audio only). A
course syllabus with extensive lecture notes, plans, and
elevations is provided.
511 CD. 2 lectures on CD (audio only, no images) $16.00.
Price includes shipping and handling.
THE SISTINE CHAPEL 511 CD. 2 lectures on audio CD (audio only, no images) $16.00. Price includes shipping and handling. |
