The one who started the works on the Sistine Chapel was Pope Sixtus IV.
However, the one who commissioned the ceiling frescoes years later
was Pope Julius II, who would often enter into arguments with the Michelangelo.
For example, in 1510 he was determined to force the artist to show
how far he had got with his work, and to the whole Roman public at that!
No self-respecting artist would agree, so neither did Michelangelo.
However, Julius II ordered that his scaffolding be dismantled,
and that the first half of his work be shown to the citizens of Rome.
In the end, the incident provided Michelangelo with an opportunity
to see his work from beneath, through the eyes of a future visitor
to the Chapel. As a result, he realised that for those unaware of the specifics
of the triptych, his chosen approach was extremely confusing.
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