Gallery of the Sistine Chapel ceiling

The Sistine Chapel ceiling, painted by Michelangelo between 1508 and 1512, is one of the most renowned artworks of the High Renaissance. Central to the ceiling decoration are nine scenes from the Book of Genesis the most famous of which is The Creation of Adam, the hands of God and Adam being reproduced in countless imitations. The complex design includes multiple groups of individual figures, both clothed and nude, allowing Michelangelo to fully demonstrate his skill in depicting a wide variety of human poses, and has since served as an enormously influential reference for other artists.