4The ceiling was already decorated before Michelangelo started working on it

Before Michelangelo started on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel, it had been decorated. There was a fresco of a blue night sky with golden stars that was painted by the Umbrian artist Piero Matteo d’Amelia.

Two years before Michelangelo started working on the Sistine Ceiling, Pope Julius II came up with the brilliant idea of painting the ceiling. The lowest wall of the three levels was painted to resemble draped hangings. This hanging is still hung on special occasions with a set of tapestries designed by Raphael. The middle level of the wall has a fresco that illustrates the life of Christ on the right side, while the left side tells of the life of Moses.

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