When Michelangelo was hired by Pope Julius II in 1508 to paint the Sistine Chapel Ceiling, little did he know the turmoil that awaited him. Never before had such a large-scale painting been attempted on a ceiling – and by a sculptor no less! After 4 ½ years of physical strain, personal conflict with the pope, and an endless demand for inspiration, Michelangelo covered nearly 7,000 sq. ft. of ceiling with some of the most beautiful and sublime figures in history. This video lecture will examine the artistic importance of the ceiling, as well the human drama behind its creation.