The Sistine Chapel

I had the good fortune to see this remarkable thing recently. And I thought as I was in the Sistine Chapel something I’ve thought before and have probably pontificated about here at pontification central. (Checking I find this post for instance). Why are there not more facsimiles in the world.  Lots of things can be made as well a second time as the first.  Now a facsimile Sistine Chapel would not be the same as the real thing, but with some careful attention one ought to be able to produce something that is pretty similar to the real experience of being inside it and looking around. It’s not that large.

Anyway, the real inspiration for pecking this post out is this link which my friend (and occasional Troppodillian) Tony Harris sent me. As a choir sings in the background you can ‘tour’ the glories of the Sistine Chapel’s frescoes, zoom in and around them. There are some advantages over being there in the flesh, namely that you can really look closely at the work. Anyway, load it up and have a look and a listen and gorge yourself on its magnificence. I’ve just been doing it and reading a few of his poems. I’ll put one below the fold for you – translated by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. 

The course of my long life hath reached at last,
In fragile bark o’er a tempestuous sea,
The common harbor, where must rendered be
Account of all the actions of the past.
The impassioned phantasy, that, vague and vast,
Made art an idol and a king to me,
Was an illusion, and but vanity
Were the desires that lured me and harassed.
The dreams of love, that were so sweet of yore,
What are they now, when two deaths may be mine, –
One sure, and one forecasting its alarms?
Painting and sculpture satisfy no more
The soul now turning to the Love Divine,
That oped, to embrace us, on the cross its arms.

Subscribe
Notify of
guest

5 Comments
Oldest
Newest Most Voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
john r walker
12 years ago

What is the translation from ?- its beautiful and strangely familiar.

re facsimiles actually there are were a lot of ‘copys’- it was quite common for Titian for example after doing something like the venus of urbarno which got a lot of attention , to organise his workshop to produce a number of close variations , in order to exploit the “I want one of those” market.

On the other hand facsimiles of things like the whole Sistine chapel would need a fair bit of dosh, the sort of person who can afford it would provably want something more unique to him/her, no?

john r walker
12 years ago

The poem is by Michelangelo? , i wonder if john Done knew it, there is a sort of echo.

Actual copies were not uncommon There are two Leonardos- from memory the Madonna of the rocks- one in paris the other in london , and great argument as to ‘authenticity’.

BTW if you can get up to Sansepolcro, the Piero della Francesca Resurrection is the best pic i have ever seen.

john r walker
12 years ago
Reply to  Nicholas Gruen

As I sure you know making copies and transcriptions was the basis of an artists education in those days, it is the best way of becoming original.

As for piero , now is a good time to see (assuming the place is open -it is italy :) )…. Its one of those pics for quiet solitary wonder , in the peak season the place tends to be too full of pilgrims.