The Controversial Restoration of the Sistine Chapel

The restoration of the Sistine Chapel in the 1980’s and 90’s was very controversial. This issue began because Michelangelo, the painter of the Sistine Chapels ceiling, did the painting as a fresco. This means that the paint was absorbed in the wall, thus becoming part of the wall itself. Like many other walls and building, over time they began to crack and deteriorate. During the time of the consideration of the restoration of the chapel, the fresco had been up for over 500 years. As one would expect, there had been many cracks in the ceiling and the coloring of the ceiling was becoming dull. The ceiling was also dusty and covered in grime from candle smoke and burning coal. Before the newest and most major renovation of the chapel, there had been other previous smaller ones. In some of these restorations, a type of glue was used to temporarily brighten the dark colors. Unfortunately, the glue helped to attract more dust and grime, which took away from the efforts of re storing it. In one attempt to restore the ceiling, wine and bread were used to clean it. I cannot not see how anyone would think that would work and it obviously did not. The most current restoration began in the 1980’s and lasted for about twelve to fourteen years. This restoration included some of the best restorers worldwide. The Nippon Television Corporation, a Japanese television company, donated 3 million dollars to fund this project and in return required that they had exclusive television andShow MoreRelatedRestoration Of Restoration And Conservation2099 Words   |  9 Pagesrisk every day. Action must be taken in order to preserve our history. The need for restoration and conservation is strong, however, the results of restoring works of art history can come with heavy criticism. The team selected to restore the Sistine chapel ceiling, between 1980 and 1999 (Beck pg. 64), very well know this to be true. Before moving into the controversy surrounding the cleaning of the Sistine chapel ceiling, it is imperative to understand the origin of this grand work of art. DuringRead MoreSistine Chapel Ceiling and The Last Judgment2035 Words   |  9 PagesIn this research paper I will be looking at two different artworks by the same artist. The two I will be looking at are the Sistine Chapel Ceiling (1508-1512) and The Last Judgment (1534). Both of these painting are painted in the Sistine chapel which is located in the Vatican. I am going to attempt to evaluate these two pieces of art painted by Michelangelo and explain the cultural and religious aspects of them. I will also look to other scholars to get their perspective and their reactions toRead MoreMuseums Essays10752 Words   |  44 PagesPlantation in Plymouth, Massachusetts, a reconstruction of the Pilgrim colony as it appeared in 1627; Conner Prairie in Fishers, Indiana, which recreates a 19th-century central Indiana rural settlement; and Old Salem in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, a restoration of an 18th-century Moravian community. Many  history  museums  are devoted to particular themes, periods, or groups of people. The Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum, one of the nation’s most visited museums, has the largest collection in