The Sistine Chapel Architecture: Some Wonders Are Within
The Sistine Chapel or the “Capella Sistina” is one of the must-visit places. The superb features have grabbed the attention of not just the typical tourist but that of notable artists. In fact, according to the famous German poet, novelist and scientist, Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, “Without having seen the Sistine Chapel, one can form no appreciable idea of what one man is capable of achieving.”
The capella is located in the Vatican’s Apostolic Palace, the official residence of the Pope. Technically, the chapel achieved its popularity from its elaborate decorations – primarily, the frescoes which were furnished by some of the grandest Renaissance artists. Among all the frescoes of the place, the most notable sections are the ceiling frescoes made by the legendary Michelangelo Buonarroti.
Aside from the designs however, the chapel that is named after Pope Sixtus IV also became famous because of its architectural design. Based on historical narratives, the Sistine Chapel architecture evokes Solomon’s Temple which was described in the Old Testament. The place is now a site that’s highly reserved for papal religious and functionary activity – such as the “conclave”, wherein the new Pope will be selected.
The exterior
Basically, its exterior are a bit plain and there are no intricate decorative details. Taking the view from the outside, the chapel just appears as a towering rectangular brick building that pretty much looks like common Italian Medieval churches. There are six tall windows vaulted at the sides and ends of the place. Other than these, another fairly noticeable exterior feature is the presence of pantile tiles used for roofing.
The elegance of the Sistine Chapel architecture is not very apparent from the outside. There are no exterior facades or processional passageways. The absence of exterior designs, however, is largely because of the fact that access to the chapel is from the rooms and doorways in the Apostolic Palace.
The interior
The architectural perfection of the place starts with the dimensions of the interior chapel with the ratio of 6:2:3 for the length, width, and height. Experts note that the dimensions were patterned after the supposed measurements of the Temple of Solomon. Another particularly amazing feature is the chapel ceiling which appears like a barrel vault flattened and cut from corner to corner, in order to provide spaces for windows that resemble smaller vaults.
Sistine Chapel architecture proves to be very meticulous. Even the pavements signify precision. It makes use of opus alexandrinum, a style which uses patterns of marble and colored stone in order to reflect the distinctive proportion of the interior divisions. Markings on the pavement show the processional papal way. There is also a “transenna” made out of marble. This screen created by Mino da Fiesole, Andrea Bregno, and Giovanni Dalmata divides the place into two sections. GP
Posted in Sistine Chapel Architecture on January 30, 2009 - 4:47 pm by admin |
