SCANDAL IN THE SISTINE CHAPEL

In 1563, Michelangelo’s The Last Judgement was targeted by the Catholic Church’s first official censorship based on perceptions of scandalous imagery and intended indecency. This monumental fresco, illustrated with naked bodies, had caused a shockwave throughout Europe. But, behind this scandal, a much larger war was being waged: the battle for authority and control over art.

This film explores the fundamental tensions of the Renaissance through this masterpiece and investigates artistic freedom versus authority, celebrating the body versus fears of desire, and conservative faith versus aesthetic choices. It reveals how Michelangelo, by painting naked flesh, touched the untouchable. Through him, we discover the reality of soft religious power and the dramatic beginnings of artistic censorship.

Incorporating expert analysis by art historians and biographers, and delving into archives and correspondence, we’ll conduct a meticulous visual exploration of the fresco and a sensitive reinterpretation of its context. This documentary offers a new perspective on this iconic, legendary work and the history of Catholic censorship.