The wall paintings of the Sistine Chapel are among the most important examples of the type of painting developed in Florence in the later fifteenth century. The five artists brought to Rome to execute them came from various different art centres: Botticelli, Ghirlandaio and Rosselli from Florence, Perugino from Umbria, Signorelli from Cortona. Perugino's contribution was the largest, with the altar wall paintings and three additional pictures. Recent scholars have concluded that it was he who was in charge of the whole project and who produced the overall design. It is true that in the Christ Handing the Keys to St Peter his portraits appears next to those of the architect and builder. Perugino was also the only artist to leave his signature in the chapel, above the baptism scene in the first compartment on the north wall.

Suggested listening (streaming mp3, 22 minutes): Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina: Missa brevis

Preview	Picture Data	File Info	Comment
	View of the left wall 1481-82 Fresco Cappella Sistina, Vatican	1222*1200 True Color 252 Kb
	Baptism of Christ c. 1482 Fresco, 335 x 540 cm Cappella Sistina, Vatican	879*612 True Color 184 Kb
	Baptism of Christ (detail) c. 1482 Fresco Cappella Sistina, Vatican	770*1040 True Color 188 Kb
	Baptism of Christ (detail) c. 1482 Fresco Cappella Sistina, Vatican	536*1400 True Color 168 Kb
	Baptism of Christ (detail) c. 1482 Fresco Cappella Sistina, Vatican	750*1145 True Color 171 Kb
	Moses's Journey into Egypt and the Circumcision of His Son Eliezer c. 1482 Fresco, 350 x 572 cm Cappella Sistina, Vatican	1189*730 True Color 196 Kb
	Moses's Journey into Egypt and the Circumcision of His Son Eliezer (detail) c. 1482 Fresco Cappella Sistina, Vatican	917*900 True Color 187 Kb
	Moses's Journey into Egypt and the Circumcision of His Son Eliezer (detail) c. 1482 Fresco Cappella Sistina, Vatican	879*738 True Color 156 Kb
	Moses's Journey into Egypt and the Circumcision of His Son Eliezer (detail) c. 1482 Fresco Cappella Sistina, Vatican	1021*900 True Color 188 Kb
	Moses's Journey into Egypt and the Circumcision of His Son Eliezer (detail) c. 1482 Fresco Cappella Sistina, Vatican	820*1001 True Color 173 Kb
	Moses's Journey into Egypt and the Circumcision of His Son Eliezer (detail) c. 1482 Fresco Cappella Sistina, Vatican	800*1013 True Color 179 Kb
	Scenes on the left wall 1481-82 Fresco Cappella Sistina, Vatican	1497*600 True Color 194 Kb
	Christ Handing the Keys to St Peter 1481-82 Fresco, 335 x 550 cm Cappella Sistina, Vatican	1200*783 True Color 207 Kb
	Christ Handing the Keys to St Peter 1481-82 Fresco, 335 x 550 cm Cappella Sistina, Vatican	1090*690 True Color 189 Kb
	Christ Handing the Keys to St Peter (detail) 1481-82 Fresco Cappella Sistina, Vatican	1137*750 True Color 157 Kb
	Christ Handing the Keys to St Peter (detail) 1481-82 Fresco Cappella Sistina, Vatican	1110*800 True Color 174 Kb
	Christ Handing the Keys to St Peter (detail) 1481-82 Fresco Cappella Sistina, Vatican	841*930 True Color 181 Kb
	Christ Handing the Keys to St Peter (detail) 1481-82 Fresco Cappella Sistina, Vatican	863*980 True Color 176 Kb
	Christ Handing the Keys to St Peter (detail) 1481-82 Fresco Cappella Sistina, Vatican	795*1010 True Color 167 Kb
	Christ Handing the Keys to St Peter (detail) 1481-82 Fresco Cappella Sistina, Vatican	823*1010 True Color 176 Kb
	Christ Handing the Keys to St Peter (detail) 1481-82 Fresco Cappella Sistina, Vatican	900*1140 True Color 170 Kb
	Assumption of Mary c. 1481 Metalpoint, pen, wash, with white heightening, 272 x 210 mm Graphische Sammlung Albertina, Vienna	858*1100 True Color 203 Kb