The Vatican has begun a deep cleaning of Michelangelo's 'The Last Judgment,' the monumental fresco that dominates the altar of the Sistine Chapel. This work began three decades after its last restoration. To carry out the work, scaffolding is being installed in front of the fresco, which covers an area of about 180 square meters and was painted between 1536 and 1541. Although the original project was planned to last three months, authorities have warned that the complexity of the fresco requires a more intensive intervention than routine maintenance tasks. 'The Last Judgment' has particular deterioration. As explained by the head of the restoration, Paolo Violini, the painting is covered by a 'general whitish haze.' This phenomenon was attributed to the deposit of microparticles of external substances carried by the air, which over time have reduced the contrasts of the chiaroscuro and unified the original colors. 'The cleaning will allow for the removal of these deposits and the restoration of the chromatic and luminous quality sought by Michelangelo, fully restoring the formal and expressive complexity of the work,' added Violini. The Sistine Chapel, located within the Apostolic Palace and built in the 15th century, will remain open to the public during the works.
