Cappella Paolina

The Pauline Chapel ( Italian for Pauline Chapel ) is a chapel in the Apostolic Palace in the Vatican City. It is separated from the Sistine Chapel only by the Sala Regia Hall. There are important works by the artist Michelangelo Buonarroti in it.

History

The chapel was built by Pope Paul III. as his private chapel commissioned; the construction lasted from 1538 to 1540. Antonio da Sangallo the Younger was the executive architect. The building is dedicated to St. Paul the Apostle.

Use

Before the conclave, that the Assembly of Cardinals to elect a new pope, in the Cappella Paolina, a fair is held. Then the Cardinals go into the Sistine Chapel for the conclave. 1549-1550 and 1559 found the conclave held in the chapel itself, because the Sistine Chapel was used otherwise. From 1549-1550 the conclave was Julius III. after a long meeting time as Pope forth.

Michelangelo's frescoes

After Michelangelo had created the famous frescoes in the Sistine Chapel, he was entrusted with the decoration of the Cappella Paolina. Between 1542 and 1549 the conversion of Paul ( 1542-1545 ) and the Crucifixion of St. Peter arose ( 1545-1549 ). Both frescoes are locates on opposite walls. Michelangelo was already 75 years old at that time and weakened by disease; So the frescoes include the age of the artist.