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Michelangelo's Masterpiece Gets 3-Month Restoration
19 Feb
Summary
- Restoration of Michelangelo's 'The Last Judgment' began Feb. 1, 2026.
- The fresco is located behind the altar in Vatican City's Sistine Chapel.
- A digital reproduction will be displayed during the three-month restoration.
Michelangelo's renowned fresco, "The Last Judgment," adorning the Sistine Chapel's altar wall in Vatican City, is currently undergoing restoration. The conservation work commenced on February 1, 2026, and is anticipated to span a period of three months. Throughout this restoration, a digital reproduction of the artwork will be accessible to visitors. Technicians from the Vatican Museums' Restoration Laboratory are diligently working behind the screen displaying the digital copy.
The Sistine Chapel itself is a cornerstone of Renaissance art, famously serving as the venue for papal conclaves. Its walls were originally decorated by prominent 15th-century artists before Michelangelo was commissioned in 1508 to paint the ceiling. He later returned in 1536 to create "The Last Judgment," a vast work completed by 1541.
