Restauracion Capilla Sistina Ingles

The restoration of the frescoes of the Sistine Chapel was one of the most significant art restorations of the 20th century.

The Sistine Chapel was built by Pope Sixtus IV and was completed approximately in the year 1481. The paintings were done by some of the most important artists in Italy such as Ghirlandaio, Perugino, and Botticelli. In later years Pope Julius II added the painting of the ceiling by Michelangelo in the early 1500’s.

Michelangelo's paintings on the ceiling are among the most notable works of art ever created. The frescoes of the Sistine Chapel have had a large amount of restorations, the most recent restoration was between 1980 and 1994.

The restoration team for the latest restoration was formed by Gianluigi Colalucci, Maurizio Rossi, Piergiorgio Bonetti, and others, as part of a series of rules, all of the restoration process had to be recorded; this was done by the photographer Takashi Okamura. Before starting the restoration the team spent six months investigating and observing the condition of the frescoes, they made a scientific study to gather information as to which solvents and methods were best when used in each surface.

The findings of the investigation were that the interior of the chapel, particularly the ceiling, was covered with a grime of candle smoke and wax. The lunettes were stained from the smoke and exhaust fumes of the city. The building was a little unstable and had caused cracking of the ceiling, the crack in the "Judith" pendentive was very large and so it had to be filled with bricks and mortar before painting.

Water from the roof and from exterior walkways above the ceiling had caused seepage which caused the surface of the frescoes to bubble and lift.

The first stage of the physical restoration was restore the plaster surface since some of it was broken and could fall. This was done by injecting a polyvinylacetate resin.

The restorers washed the surfaces using a variety of solvents, and even used water.

Some small areas were not restored so that there could be a physical record of the previous restorations, an area was left with overpainting and candle wax, and another area demonstrating the attempt to counteract salination with oil.

The first area to be restored was the work of Michelangelo’s lunettes, this particular restoration was done between June 1980 and October 1984. After this area was completed the team focused on restoring the ceciling which was completed by December 1989 after this the Last Judgment was the next piece to be restored. The last restoration stage was the restoration of the wall frescoes, which was approved until 1994 and unveiled on 11 December 1999.

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