6 most famous paintings that have been created on ceilings

Paintings are usually done on walls, canvases, or paper. And while these too are masterpieces in their own right, it makes one wonder about the artistic ability and the courage required to paint on ceilings and make some of the most famous paintings and frescoes known to man. Be it the Renaissance era, or the later times when ceiling paintings were commissioned, humans were then and are even today enchanted with the beauty that these paintings hold.

The Sistine Chapel Ceiling, painted by Michelangelo between 1508 and 1512, is one of the most famous works of art in the world. Located in Vatican City, this masterpiece covers about 12,000 square feet and shows incidents from the Book of Genesis. The central theme of the ceiling art is the Creation of the World and the last panel ends with the Drunkenness of Noah.
And among all the characters, the most famous one is the ‘Creation of Adam’, where he can be seen reaching out to God, trying to touch his finger which will give him the final speck of life.
The ceiling is painted in beautiful, bright colours, and all of the characters have such elaborate expressions to them that it becomes a masterpiece to look at.

The Salon d’Hercule in Versailles Palace, France, is like a luxurious room that has been decorated with a stunning ceiling painting. The painting is done by Francois Lemoyne and is said to be completed in around 1736. It shows the moment when Hercules got an almost divine status and celebrates his ascent to Mount Olympus.
The painting is filled with bright colours, moving figures, and there is a sort of action to it all. Hercules can be seen going to the heavens, surrounded by gods and goddesses, including Zeus, Hera, and Athena. The figures are in different poses, which in turn gives it the movement and drama.

Imagine the open sky, bright and blue, without many clouds in sight. But, you see a few people looking down at you from up above. This is what one feels when they look at the Camera degli Sposi. Andrea Mantegna’s ceiling painting in the Ducal Palace in Italy, is a beautiful example of illusionistic ceiling painting. The frescoes cover the walls and ceiling of the small room, creating a sense of openness and space.

The ceiling looks like a portal to the sky through which people are looking down. Looking down are some playful cherubs and classical figures and the use of light makes it seem extremely real. .

The Last Judgement has been painted on the dome of the Florence Cathedral, Italy. The painting was completed between 1572 and 1579, and covers over 3,600 square metres. The Last Judgement is considered to be one the largest frescoes of its type. The painting shows the Last Judgement, with Christ in the centre surrounded by angels, saints, and the ‘saved’. And then below them are the people who are ‘damned’, whose souls could not be revived, and they are shown in torment and suffering.
The painting has many different colours, poses, details, and a sense of movement and drama. From the expressions on the saved to the horror on the face of the damned, it is both powerful and emotional.

The ‘Gallery of Maps’, located in the Vatican Museums, are a series of ceiling paintings by Ignazio Danti. The gallery is a long corridor, decorated with detailed maps of Italy and its regions, along with mythological and historical scenes.
The ceiling paintings are decorated with gold leaf and vibrant colours and show battles, triumphs, and historical figures. The minute details and long form compositions create a sense of royalty and elegance in the museums.

A tread away from the bright, day-time paintings is ‘The Assumption’ by Jean-Baptiste Pierre. It is done on the ceiling of the Church of Saint-Roch in Paris and was completed in the 18th century. The painting shows the Virgin Mary being called into heaven, surrounded by angels and saints. The painting is filled with movement, and the characters look like they are floating upwards, towards heaven. The painting has different shades of blue, gold, and white, creating a sense of beauty and divine presence.