The Vatican has said scaffolding has been erected in the Sistine Chapel for restorers to give Michelangelo's the Last Judgement a much-needed clean-up.
    It said the maintenance work will last about three months and the Sistine Chapel, the venue for the conclave and also home to Michelangelo's famous frescoed ceiling, will remain open while it is being done.
    It said a high-definition reproduction of the image of the Last Judgement will enable visitors to continue to admire the masterpiece during the cleaning.
    "Around 30 years after the most recent conservation work on the Last Judgement of the Sistine Chapel, completed in 1994 under the supervision of the Director General Carlo Pietrangeli and carried out by the Chief Restorer of the Vatican Museums' Paintings and Wood Materials Restoration Laboratory, Gianluigi Colalucci, extraordinary maintenance will be performed on this masterpiece of Michelangelo's mature period," said Barbara Jatta, the Director of the Vatican Museums.
    "It will last for around three months, and is supported by the Florida Chapter of the Patrons of the Arts in the Vatican Museums".

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED © Copyright ANSA