Nearly 30 years after the last restoration work, the Vatican Museums have begun extraordinary maintenance on Michelangelo’s Last Judgment in the Sistine Chapel.
Over the course of about three months, a team of specialists will remove the dirt that has built upon the masterpiece over time, which has diminished the work’s brightness and contrast.
The Sistine Chapel will remain open to visitors throughout the restoration process, but the cleaning will be carried out behind a canvas with a copy of the world renowned painting while specialists complete the restoration work.
The goal is to recover Michelangelo’s original painting, restoring The Last Judgment to its original power and impact.
The project is supported by the Vatican Museums and by a regional delegation in Florida dedicated to funding this type of restoration work at the Vatican.
