The Sistine chapel is well known by its famous art work inside the chapel. It was all painted by one man, Michelangelo Buonarroti. He started painting the chapel when he was asked to paint the twelve apostils in 1508. He continued to paint the chapel until 1531. The ceiling of the chapel is the main attraction, which tells nine stories from Genesis; it starts at the creation, to the drunkenness of Noah. The art works its way from the back, near the alter wall, to the entrance, as it was painted backwards. the nine stories that are told are; separation of light, creation of the sun moon and planets, separation of land from sea, creation of Adam and Eve, the symbol of innocence, original sun, banishment from the garden of Eden, and the last three drunkenness of Noah. The side wall contains pictures of Moses, Christ and contempory popes. These portraits originally began with the portrait of Peter. The end wall speaks of judgment day. all together, Michelangelo’s work on the chapel, conclude with; 9 scenes from Genesis, 4 corner pendentives, 4 bronze nudes above penditives, 8 triangular spandrels with 5 pairs of bronze nudes, 7 prophets, 5 Sybil’s, 20 ignudi and 10 medallions. the building itself has no special architectural meaning to represent any kind of axis mundi or spirituality meaning, but the art work makes up for this absence with different pictures, like the famous man reaching out to God in heaven, connecting them. The height of the building could be thought to be purpose full, acting as an axis mundi.but the art has many pictures of connecting man and God, almost implying the presence of some sort of axis mundi.
