Restoration of the Sistine Chapel
Issue of 1994

The second set of Vatican City stamps to focus on the restoration of the Sistine Chapel was released on April 8, 1994, and consists of eight stamps and one small souvenir sheet. The images on the eight stamps, which consist of four diptychs (pairs), show four major scenes from Michelangelo’s magnificent work on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel. The minisheet depicts a section of the fresco behind the main altar of the Chapel, entitled “The Last Judgement”. 350 lire and 350 lire (Scott 944-945). The Creation of the Stars and the Planets: 500 lire and 500 lire (Scott 946-947). The Creation of Man: 1000 lire and 1000 lire (Scott 948-949). The Original Sin: 2000 lire and 2000 lire (Scott 950-951). The Flood: The souvenir sheet, denominated at 4000 L (Scott 952). Detail from The Last Judgement: The restoration of Michelangelo’s ceiling frescoes, which were created from 1508 to 1512, was completed from 1984 through 1989. The work on the Last Judgment started in 1990 and was completed in 1994. REFERENCES: Wikipedia, Sistine Chapel Wikipedia, Restoration of the Sistine Chapel Frescoes Governatorato Vatican City, Philatelic Office, April 8, 1994, Issue of Stamps, Celebrative Series: The Restored Sistine Chapel, The Triumph of Color Vatican Philatelic Society website, www.vaticanstamps.org, Stamp Database Search