The Vatican`s greatest treasures are its Greek and Roman
antiquities, which have been on display since the 18th century.
The 19th century saw the addition of exciting discoveries from
Etruscan tombs and excavations in Egypt. Then there are works
by many of Italy`s greatest Renaissance artists housed in the
Pinacoteca (art gallery) and decorating the walls of chapels and
papal apartments.

The Egyptian collection contains finds from 19th and 20th century
excavations, as well as items brought from Rome in Imperial times.
There are also Roman imitations of Egyptian art. Genuine Egyptian
works include the tomb of Iri, guardian of the Pyramid of Cheops
(22nd century BC).

The Chiaramonti Museum is lined with ancient busts and its
extension, the Bracco Nuovo, has a 1st century BC statue of
Emperor Augustus.

The Etruscan Museum houses a superb collection, including the
bronze throne, bed, and funeral cart, found in the 650 BC
Regolini-Galassi tomb in Cerveteri.

In the Vatican Library is the Aldobrandini Wedding, a beautiful
Roman fresco from the 1st century AD. The Pio-Christian Museum
has Early Christian art, such as inscriptions and sculpture from
catacombs and basilicas. The first two rooms of the Pinacoteca
house medieval art, including Giotto`s Stefaneschi Triptych,
which decorated the main altar of the old St. Peter`s. Other rooms
in the Pinacoteca contain Renaissance works. 15th-century
highlights are a Pieta by Giovanni Bellini and Leonardo da Vinci`s
unfinished St. Jerome. Exceptional 16th-century pieces include an
altarpiece by Titian, a Depositian by Caravaggio, St. Helen by Paolo
Veronese, and a whole room devoted to Raphael.

The Sistine Chapel takes its name from Pope Sixtus IV: it was
built in 1473 at his request. The walls were frescoed by some
of the finest artists of the age, including Signorelli,
Botticelli, Roselli. There are 12 frescoes on the side walls,
painted between 1481 and 1483. Their subjects are parallel episodes
on the lives of Moses and Christ.

In 1508-12 at the request of Pope Julius II, Michelangelo created
what has become his most famous work, the chapel ceiling. The main
panels chart the Creation of the World and Fall of Man. They are
surrounded by subjects from the Old and New Testaments. In 1534-41
Michelangelo completed the chapel walls, painting The Last Judgment
on the altar wall. It depicts the souls of the dead rising up to face
the wrath of God and the damned being hurled down to hell. The
artist`s own tormented attitude to his faith is seen in his
self-portrait, painted on the skin held by the martyr, St. Bartolomew.

Article written by Vasilena Dranchovska.