Sistine Chapel Ceiling

Michelangelo's masterpiece the Sistine Chapel Ceiling in the Vatican is 500 years old. It's almost unbelievable that this entire ceiling was painted buon fresco (before the plaster dried) giornata (a day's work) in only four years, between 1508 and 1512. This is High Renaissance in more ways than one. Michelangelo's stupendous work of Christian mythology attracts more than 20,000 rubber-necking tourists a day. The Vatican admits it may have to limit the number of visitors. Top is The Temptation of Adam and Expulsion from the Garden of Eden. Left is Ignudo from the Sacrifice of Noah group; it shows how the plaster was overpainted. CLICK for a BBC News video. CLICK to see high quality images of the ceiling panels.