My main goal for going to the Vatican was to see the Sistine Ceiling. I am a huge fan of Michelangelo and wanted to see the ceiling in person. Little did I know that just about every hall (which there are many) has immaculately covered ceilings.
The ceiling in the Hall of Maps is one of the best! I think that a lot of it has to do with the colors of the blues of the maps and the yellows and oranges on the ceiling. It was spectacular.
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Raphael Rooms
The other ceilings that deserves some serious attention are in the Raphael Rooms. At about the same time that Michelangelo was painting the Sistine Ceiling (1508-1512) Raphael was in another part of the Vatican painting frescoes in four rooms, which are now called the Raphael Rooms.
Room of the Segnatura
In addition to the great ceiling this room has the School of Athens
Ceiling of the Room of the Segnatura
The School of Athens, 1509-1511
Close up of the ceiling of the Room of the Segnatura
Room of Heliodorus
This was my favorite Raphael Room mostly because The Deliverance of Saint Peter is so spectacular.
Ceiling of the Room of Heliodorus
The Expulsion of Heliodorus from the Temple, 1511-1513
Portion Deliverance of Saint Peter, 1514
The painting shows how Saint Peter was liberated from Herod's prison by an angel, as described in Acts 12. 1
Acts 12: 6-7
And when Herod would have brought him forth, the same night Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains: and the keepers before the door kept the prison.
And, behold, the an angel of the Lord came upon him, and a light shined in the prison: and he smote Peter on the side, and raised him up, saying, Arise up quickly. And his chains fell off from his hands.
Portion Deliverance of Saint Peter, 1514
Before seeing this fresco I didn't realize how gifted Raphael was with chiaroscuro. Chiaroscuro is the use of contrasts of light to achieve a sense of volume in modelling three-dimensional objects and figures. 2
I really had to look at this painting for a long time to discern whether it was a paintings or if there were bars and light up over the door.
It is fantastic!
From my last Art Talk post Chihuly at the Oklahoma City Museum of Art a very cool, colorful and modern ceiling by Dale Chihuly.
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What is your favorite ceiling?
I would love to see pictures of it.
Art Talk Series Highlights
2018
Art Talk: Introduction
Art Talk: Emotion in Bronze
Art Talk: Moore Across America
Art Talk: Bronze
Art Talk: Moore in America
Art Talk: King and Queen
Art Talk: Art Tells Our Story
Art Talk: Highlight Tour of the MET
Art Talk: The Burghers of Calais
Art Talk: Auguste Rodin
Art Talk: Art in Paris in the 1870s
Art Talk: Guest Blogger, Frankie O'Neill
Art Talk: "Felt is a happy fabric."
Art Talk: Murals in Klamath Falls
Art Talk: Woman with a Parasol- Madame Monet and Her Son
Art Talk: Respect and Compassion
2019
Art Talk: Art Connects Us
Art Talk: My mother's crystal
Art Talk: Mother and Child
Art Talk: Tour of the Galleria dell' Accademia
Art Talk: Walking tour of Florence, Italy
Art Talk: Chihuly at the Oklahoma City Museum of Art