ROSSELLI, Cosimo

Crossing of the Red Sea

Fresco
Cappella Sistina

Built between 1475 and 1483, in the time of Pope Sixtus IV della Rovere, the Sistine Capel has originally served as Palatine Chapel. The 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, as given in the Old Testament. 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 Pontinelli and the construction was supervised by Giovanino de'Dolci. The wall paintings were executed by Pietro Perugino, Sandro Botticelli, Domenico Ghirlandaio, Cosimo Rosselli, Luca Signorelli and their respective workshops, which included Pinturicchio, Piero di Cosimo and Bartolomeo della Gatta.

Michelangelo Buonarroti was commissioned by Pope Julius II della Rovere in 1508 to repaint the ceiling; the work was completed between 1508 and 1512. He painted the Last Judgement over the altar, between 1535 and 1541, being commissioned by Pope Paul III Farnese.

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