Michelangelo's work in the Sistine Chapel is one of the greatest frescoes of the Italian Renaissance. Every year, millions of people travel to the Vatican to see this impressive work. Not only is the Sistine Chapel an attraction for art lovers, but for Christians, the Sistine Chapel is today considered one of the holiest chapels in our world. However, the Sistine Chapel, like any other work of art, was designed to send a message to its viewers. Like most works of art commissioned by the Catholic Church, the Sistine Chapel was intended to elevate the status of the church and inspire the faithful in their faith. . However, the creation of the Sistine Chapel frescoes is not as simplistic as those who commissioned Michelangelo to paint them, particularly the Last Judgment fresco, intended. Through art history, researchers have discovered that the frescoes painted by Michelangelo were covered in hidden messages. By examining Michelangelo's life, the religious teaching of his time, and his personal beliefs, we can determine what the true meaning of his work was. The Sistine Chapel is located in the Vatican, the seat of the Catholic Church. The Vatican is made up of St. Peter's Basilica, the Apostolic Palace of the Pose and the Vatican Museum which houses works referring to the history of the Church. However, not only is the Vatican the site of immense religious history, but it is also the smallest country in the world. In perspective, it is very ironic that the smallest country holds the most riches when it comes to art history. The history of the Sistine Chapel began under Pope Sixtus. Elected in 1475, Pope Sixtus led a life of greed and corruption. Ignoring the economic and political problems that plagued the... middle of paper...... the Jewish themes and the heliocentric concept work together to show how Michelangelo felt. Looking at The Last Judgment, one can feel a certain hope amidst the fear that the mural is meant to evoke. Christ centered in the middle shows his availability, he is no longer separated by hierarchies. Christ is with us all. The Last Judgment artistically encapsulates the religious discourse that many church leaders, such as Marin Luther, attempted to spread to the masses. Salvation is available to everyone, even Jews. The Church could no longer hold salvation captive, and this message was made possible through Michelangelo's religious and classical education. If he had not been surrounded by different schools of thought and pushed to think differently, it is safe to say that the Sistine Chapel we have today may never have existed..