Roman Landmark Embarks on National Tour ~ Sistine Chapel

The Artists’ Chateau®
English
Español

Article: By Kristian Jaime   |   TheArtistsChateau.com


CHICAGO, IL — If a trip to the famed Sistine Chapel in Rome is not on your agenda, a new exhibit on a nationwide tour with four more stops may be the next best thing.

 

“Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel: The Exhibition” features every panel of the meticulously painted frescoes, in their original size, in high-definition photography.

 

The landmark exhibit, a production of a partnership between The State Fair of Texas, Mundo Latino and SEE Global Entertainment, includes 34 reproductions on 16-foot panels. Individual seminal works on display are the much reproduced “The Creation of Adam” and “The Last Judgment” to name a few.

 

Last Judgment by Michelangelo - presented in the Sistine Chapel Exhibition

Currently, the show is located at the Oakbrook Center in Chicago through Aug. 15 before it heads to San Antonio’s Lambermont Estate from July 11 to Sept. 6. The final two stops of the full 20-location tour are Charleston, SC from July 6 to Sept. 26 and Santa Barbara, CA from May 29 to Sept. 4, 2023.

 

The Ceiling of the Sistine Chapel in the Vatican

 

“We are thrilled about the interest from the crowds who are lining up to see Michelangelo’s iconic artwork during the State Fair,” said Martin Biallas, CEO of SEE Global Entertainment. “It is reminiscent of the lines I saw to get into the Sistine Chapel at the Vatican. Here, however, the visitor can explore the artwork up close and personal, something that is impossible to achieve anywhere but here.”

 

As with any exhibition of this size and grandeur, additional programming incorporated lectures, café conversations, VIP tours and holiday honors.

 

Although the domestic leg of the tour winds down, the panels have also traversed the globe with exhibitions in Poland, China, Canada, Germany, Austria, Colombia and Panama. According to Biallas, the success of the show has even garnered praise from those who have seen the real paintings.

 

David and Goliath by Michelangelo at the Sistine Chapel

 

“Guests who have already visited the Sistine Chapel have told me that they found a new way to appreciate the art of Michelangelo through this exhibition,” said Biallas.

Audio amenities in English and Spanish are available to the public for self-guided tours to get the full complexity of each panel. Being the first American site to host the exhibition, the City of Dallas welcomed it with a letter from an early fan—Mayor Michael S. Rawlings.

 

Creation of Eve by Michelangelo in the Sistine Chapel

“The arts play a tremendous role in our city’s culture and economic health, engaging both residents and tourists alike,” wrote Rawlings. “I am excited to have such world-class exhibitions in our city and pleased that this exhibition will premiere for the first time in the United States at the State Fair of Texas. Enjoy this piece of Rome reinterpreted for the historic landscape of Fair Park.”

While many may be aware of the masterpieces completed by Michelangelo during his prolific career, many do not know that such a grand project was completed largely by a solo effort.

 

The Deluge (The Great Flood) by Michelangelo in the Sistine Chapel

 

On Nov. 1, 1512, after over four years of work, the Roman Catholic Church inaugurated the ceiling frescoes of the Sistine Chapel. The conditions were difficult with the painter regularly at his task for long hours and in dim light. Nearly 20 years later, in 1536, he returned to Rome when Clements VII wanted to redesign of the altar wall of the Chapel. Michelangelo then worked until 1541 creating the “Last Judgment” with Jesus in the center as the great judge separating humanity into the chosen and the damned.

 

Thank you for spending time at The Artists' Chateau® ~

 

Please take a brief moment to Share this with Your Circle of Family & Friends

 

The Curated Content Collection

In-Print

Enriched Content

Return to The Library