We can’t go to Rome to see the Sistine Chapel, but we have the next best thing. Reproductions of the one-of-a-kind masterpiece are now on display in Atlanta, and it offers a wonderful way to really appreciate Michelangelo’s work. When I went to see the Sistine Chapel two years ago, it was difficult to grasp the genius behind the frescoes. The room was small, crowded and I was being pushed around as people tried to get a better look. It was hard and rushed. The paintings are on the ceiling, after all. I knew I was seeing something special; I just couldn’t see it!
But Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel The Exhibition, located at the Westside Cultural Arts Center, takes that all away and gives an up-close-and-personal view. Each of the 34 panels is 16 feet, which is approximately the same size it is in the chapel so you can really see the details. The panels are photographic reproductions with some of the color enhanced.
The Sistine Chapel, which was painted between 1508 and 1512 at the Vatican, tells several of the stories from the Old and New Testaments including the Prophet Daniel, the Libyan Sibyl, God Separating Water from the Heavens and the Creation of the Sun, Moon and Earth. Of course, the Creation of Adam, the most famous of all the frescoes, is right up front to greet you to the exhibition. With each panel is a description of the story behind the painting is in English and Spanish.
The exhibition will be in Atlanta until May 23 (Thursday through Sunday) and then it travels to Sant Barbara. Tickets are: Adults: $18; Senior, military and university students: $14; Children under 17: 12 and children under 5 are free. There is a family pack (2 adults, two children) for $45.
To see more, visit ChapelSistine.com.