Michelangelo served as a stellar example for future artists who sought status and economic independence.
Vatican
Vatican to Return Its Parthenon Marbles Fragments to Greece
Pope Francis called the works’ repatriation a “donation.”
Disgruntled American Tourist Smashes Roman Busts at the Vatican
The 65-year-old man was reportedly angry that he was not granted a meeting with the Pope.
Climate Protesters Glue Themselves to Vatican Masterpiece
Two activists from the group Ultima Generazione glued their hands to the base of the ancient Roman statue “Laocoön and His Sons,” dubbed as a “prototypical icon of human agony.”
Indigenous Groups in Canada Call on the Vatican to Return Their Cultural Belongings
First Nations, Métis, and Inuit leaders have asked for their cultural heritage to be returned ahead of the pope’s visit to Canada.
Aquaman Star Jason Momoa Slammed for Photos Inside Sistine Chapel
The site of Michelangelo’s famous frescoes has a strict no-photos policy.
Why Is There an Astronaut in This Year’s Vatican Nativity?
The Nativity, produced between 1965 and 1975 in a ceramic school in Abruzzo, has been mocked for its sci-fi aesthetics and inclusion of a Darth Vader-like character.
How Does the Vatican Protect Its Digitized Collection From Hackers?
The Vatican Apostolic Library says it experiences an average of 100 cyber threats every month since it started its digitization project in 2012.
Mexico Asks Vatican for Temporary Return of Ancient Indigenous Manuscripts
Ahead of the 500-year anniversary of the Spanish conquest of the Aztec empire, Mexican president Andrés Manuel López Obrador has requested several manuscripts in the Vatican’s library.
Raphael’s Tapestries Unite at Sistine Chapel for the First Time Since the Renaissance
The tapestries — made out of silk, wool, and gold and silver thread — have been restored over the past decade by conservationists at the Vatican Museum.
Vatican Unveils New Sculpture as Homage to Refugees
“Angels Unaware” by Canadian artist Timothy P. Schmalz shows 140 migrants in a refugee boat and is now on view in the Vatican’s St. Peter’s Square.
The Divergence of Art and Fashion at the Metropolitan Museum
Presenting contemporary garments alongside Byzantine and Medieval artworks underlines the visual differences between the two genres of objects.