A rare collection of sketches by Michelangelo, created to paint the ceilings of the Vatican Sistine Chapel, is on display in the United States.
The Mascarell Museum at William & Mary University in Williamsburg, Virginia is currently holding an exhibition Michelangelo: The origins of the SistineIt will open on March 6th and will be held until May 28th, 2025. The show coincides with the 550th anniversary of the Renaissance artist’s birth, and offers an unprecedented glimpse into his creative process.
Michelangelo is said to have created thousands, if not thousands, drawings before filling them with the ceiling of the Vatican’s 12,000-square-foot fresco, but today there are said to be less than 50. The scene depicted in the Sistine Chapel is from the Bible’s book of Genesis. The Creation of Adam and Human fall. Shortly before he died in 1564, Italian artists destroyed many sketches, as they had no intention of viewing by the public. The exhibit presents 25 of the surviving works, seven of which have never been seen in the US.
Curated by Michelangelo and Adriano Marinazzo, a leading scholar of Italian Renaissance art, the exhibition is the result of 15 years of research and collaborations with leading Italian art institutions, including Gallery Degli Ufisi in Florence and the Museum Reali in Casa Buonaroti, Florence and Tono. This becomes rare in Michelangelo’s artistic vision, as Italian authorities allow sketches to leave the country for just 12 weeks every few years.
“Michelangelo: The origins of the Sistine It offers visitors an unparalleled opportunity to step into the hearts of one of the great artists of history and witness the process behind the masterpieces that are widely considered to be the pinnacle of artistic achievements,” Marinazzo told Afar.
In the work there are two sketches of the 12 Apostles (the disciples of Jesus in the New Testament). This sketch was intended by Pope Julius II, who commissioned the work, to include Michelangelo in the upper corner of the ceiling, but the portrait was eventually discarded by the artist. There is also a graffiti at the bottom of a poem written by Michelangelo, who considers the earliest paintings of the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel. The painting debuted at this exhibition. It has never been shown anywhere before.
Beyond the sketches, the exhibition includes a portrait of Michelangelo by Renaissance artist Giuliano Bugiardini. This was also the first time it was exhibited in the US, and includes two self-portraits by Michelangelo depicting the famous ceiling. Visitors will also find sculptures, lithographs and other materials to help them better understand how Michelangelo created his undoubtedly most famous artwork. There are also life-size copies of the Sistine Chapel Fresco. The Creation of Adam And Marinazzo’s premiere This is not my artimmersive 3D video art installation that depicts the architectural structure of the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel.
“We hope that visitors will leave with deep gratitude for Michelangelo’s journey, not only changing the monumental effort required to pregnant and carry out the Sistine ceiling, but also the human struggle, ambitions and the ideas that defined his work,” Marinazzo said. “The exhibition presents many drawings by Michelangelo that have never been shown in the United States before, providing rare glimpses into the artist’s visionary mind.”
The exhibition is one of the first major showcases at the newly renovated Mascarell Museum, which reopened on February 8, 2025 following a two-year $43 million expansion.
How to visit
Those interested in witnessing the artwork can visit Muscarelle.wm.edu to get tickets and check out information and additional programming. The museum is located about a mile from Colonial Williamsburg. Williamsburg is a living history museum depicting life in Virginia in the 18th century.
Visitors to the area can stay at historic hotels within Williamsburg, including the Williamsburg Lodge, the Sign Collection, envisioned by John D. Rockefeller Jr. in 1939.
