SISTINE CHAPEL. The private chapel of the Pope in the Vatican. It was built. for Sixtus IV., in 1473, by the Florentine archi tect Giovanni de' Dolci. The apartment is 133 feet. long and 45 feet wide, and is somewhat higher than its width. It is lighted by six win dows on each side and three in the rear. The screen separating the congregation from the rear of the chapel reserved for the Pope and cardi nals is one of the best pieces of marble decora tion of the early Renaissance, and the tribune of the singers is equally good. The floor is dee kited with beautiful mosaics in imitation of early Christian work. The walls and ceiling are without adornment excepting the frescoes, which form the chief attraction of the chapel. The walls are a museum of the works of the best Tuscan and Umbrian painters of the later fif teenth century, and they contain works by Botti eelli, Roselli, Ghirlandajo, Sig,norelli, Perugino, and Pintnriechio. (See these titles.) On the left wall are incidents from the "History of Moses." while on the right are six corresponding
scenes from the "Life of Christ." Under these formerly hung, on great occasions, the famous tapestries of Raphael (q.v.). On the ceiling are the wonderful frescoes of Michelangelo. represent ing the "Creation." the "History of Noah," and other biblical scenes, together with the celebrated "Prophets" and "Sibyls"—one of the greatest creations of modern art. The entire altar wall is covered by his rather mannered "Last. Judg ment," the largest fresco in the world. (See MICHELANGELO.) All these paintings have been greatly damaged by time and incense. The Sis tine Chapel is the scene of most of the great func tions at which the Pope personally assists, and here the Papal elections are held. Its choir was founded by Gregory the Great, and is composed of about thirty priests and Papal chaplains. They sing wit limit accompaniment. and their style. the messa di core, is of world-wide celebrity.