Nate
You’ve probably seen pictures of the Sistine Chapel ceiling. Maybe even stared at it in a textbook or squinted at it through a selfie stick crowd or watched the conclave coverage nonstop last week. But thanks to a viral Twitter thread by Jeremy Wayne Tate, we’re now seeing it in a whole new light.
Titled “Details you missed and things you (probably) didn’t know about the Sistine Chapel,” the thread breaks down some genuinely cool facts, details, and artistic choices you might’ve missed.
If you love hidden meanings, art nerd trivia, or just want to sound cultured without reading a whole book, this is your scroll.
1. Cool Facts You Might Not Know About the Sistine Chapel
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3. The Sistine Chapel ceiling appears 3D… but it’s entirely painted.
Michelangelo used trompe-l’œil (visual illusion) to create fake architecture, shadows, and figures that leap out at you. pic.twitter.com/JjU1vtnvu2
— Jeremy Wayne Tate (@JeremyTate41) May 11, 2025
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7. Michelangelo never wanted this job.
He was a sculptor at heart, not a painter, and grumbled that the ceiling commission (ordered by Pope Julius II) was a trap by his rivals to embarrass him.
And then he proceeded to create one of the greatest masterpieces in art history… pic.twitter.com/w9SnhF7U8h
— Jeremy Wayne Tate (@JeremyTate41) May 11, 2025
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14. The Clavigero, also known as the keeper of the keys, is a Vatican official responsible for the 2,797 keys that open and close the Vatican Museums.
This role involves accessing and securing the collections within the museums, including the Sistine Chapel and Raphael’s Rooms. pic.twitter.com/IgRAXjLUg0
— Jeremy Wayne Tate (@JeremyTate41) May 11, 2025
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