In 1508, as Michelangelo thought about how to paint the Sistine Chapel ceiling, he had to have someone else create the scaffolding. He had to tweak the plan, though, to make sure that the scaffolding did not interfere with the painting.
It was such a massive undertaking - to conceive the designs, complete the scaffolding and then create the frescoes - that it is hard to believe Michelangelo did this on his own. Not to mention ... fresco-paintings require a very specific method of preparation.
The Pope wanted scenes from the New Testament, on the ceiling, but Michelangelo disagreed. He turned, instead, to the Old Testament for his inspiration.
This clip demonstrates, among other things, how the frescoes were actually created. It was a laborious process.
See, also:
Renaissance Artist - The Divine Michelangelo, Part 1
Renaissance Artist - The Divine Michelangelo, Part 2
Renaissance Artist - The Divine Michelangelo, Part 3
Renaissance Artist - The Divine Michelangelo, Part 4
Renaissance Artist - The Divine Michelangelo, Part 5
Renaissance Artist - The Divine Michelangelo, Part 6
Renaissance Artist - The Divine Michelangelo, Part 7
Renaissance Artist - The Divine Michelangelo, Part 8
Renaissance Artist - The Divine Michelangelo, Part 10
Renaissance Artist - The Divine Michelangelo, Part 11
Renaissance Artist - The Divine Michelangelo, Part 12
Renaissance Artist - The Divine Michelangelo, Part 13
Renaissance Artist - The Divine Michelangelo, Part 14
Renaissance Artist - The Divine Michelangelo, Part 15
Credits
From "The Divine Michelangelo" (2004), with Stephen Noonan playing the title role. Online, courtesy BBC.
Directors
Tim Dunn
Stuart Elliott
Narrator
Susannah York
Michelangelo
Stephen Noonan
