WILLIAMSBURG, VA.- The Muscarelle Museum of Art at William & Mary transports visitors to Renaissance Italy and commemorates the 550th anniversary of Michelangelo’s birth with “Michelangelo: The Genesis of the Sistine,” on view March 6-May 28, 2025. The groundbreaking exhibition, exclusively on view at the Muscarelle, unveils new discoveries about the artist’s work and offers the rare opportunity to behold 25 masterpiece drawings for the Sistine Chapel ceiling and “The Last Judgement.” The exhibition also features engravings, lithographs and other materials showcasing the origin story of the artist’s greatest works.

“The Genesis of the Sistine” will be among the first exhibitions presented in the expanded Muscarelle Museum of Art, opening Feb. 8, 2025. The renovated building, designed by Pelli Clarke & Partners, increases the Museum’s footprint by more than 42,000 square feet and blends historic traditions with contemporary design. The new facility, named the Martha Wren Briggs Center for the Visual Arts after lead donor Martha Wren Briggs ’55, triples the Museum’s exhibition capacity and reimagines interior and exterior spaces to optimize the visitor experience.


Michelangelo, “Study for the Prophet Zacharias.” Florence, Uffizi Galleries.

“The expanded Muscarelle Museum of Art will have a transformational impact on the cultural landscape of William & Mary,” said David Brashear, director of the Muscarelle. “The first major exhibition in the expanded Museum, ‘Michelangelo: The Genesis of the Sistine’ offers an opportunity of a lifetime for our visitors to view these rare artworks against the backdrop of forward-looking architecture. The exhibition continues the Muscarelle’s strong record of presenting major Renaissance exhibitions, having presented work by Botticelli in 2017, Leonardo in 2015 and Michelangelo in 2013.”

The exhibition was curated by Adriano Marinazzo, Michelangelo expert and the Muscarelle’s curator of special projects. “‘Michelangelo: The Genesis of the Sistine’ offers an unprecedented glimpse into the mind of one of the most famous artists in the world, revealing the unfiltered thoughts, ideas, struggles and breakthroughs that shaped one of history’s greatest masterpieces – the frescoes of the Sistine Chapel ceiling,” said Marinazzo.

Michelangelo destroyed many of his sketches, intending them for his eyes only. Of the hundreds created for the Sistine Chapel ceiling, less than 50 survive today, with nearly half on view in “The Genesis of the Sistine.” The exhibition marks the global debut of a long-overlooked drawing hypothesized to be Michelangelo’s first sketch in preparation for the Sistine Chapel ceiling decoration. Notably, it will present the U.S. debut of seven Michelangelo drawings, including two sketches of apostles long forgotten by scholars and the public. These sketches, originally part of a single sheet, offer visitors the opportunity to examine Michelangelo’s initial concept for the ceiling — a concept he later abandoned. The Muscarelle will reunite them in a single frame for the first time.


Michelangelo, “Study for the Cumaean Sibyl.” Turin, Musei Reali Torino.

Also among the exhibition’s 38 objects is a famous portrait of Michelangelo by his contemporary Giuliano Bugiardini, two self-portrait sketches of Michelangelo while he was painting the ceiling and a letter to Michelangelo from his friend and painter Francesco Granacci — never before shown in an exhibition — detailing his efforts to recruit assistants for the ceiling frescoes. Additionally, life-size reproductions of iconic frescoes, including “The Creation of Adam,” allow museumgoers to compare themselves to the scale of the monumental works.

Marinazzo’s “This is Not My Art,” an immersive video, will premiere as part of the exhibition. The presentation brings Michelangelo’s illusionistic painted architecture from the Sistine Chapel ceiling to life, transforming his two-dimensional designs into a three-dimensional digital experience. Marinazzo, an art and architectural historian, architect and visual artist, has in-depth knowledge of Italian Renaissance art and architecture.


Michelangelo, “Sonnet and Self-portrait while painting the Sistine Ceiling.” Florence, Casa Buonarroti.

Recent discoveries offer a deeper understanding of Michelangelo, both as an artist and a man. A compelling juxtaposition of “The Creation of Adam” with a self-portrait hints at the artist's perception of himself as the Creator. A previously unseen preparatory sketch hidden within a larger drawing provides fascinating insight into Michelangelo's artistic journey.

“Visitors to ‘The Genesis of the Sistine’ can expect a thoughtfully crafted, intimate experience designed to bring them closer to Michelangelo’s creative world. The exhibition’s atmosphere will evoke the Sistine Chapel itself, with gallery walls painted in a deep blue reminiscent of the Chapel’s celestial background, while gold accents on door interiors nod to the rich hues Michelangelo used in his frescoes. To create a personal, reflective setting, lighting will be kept low — both for conservation and to enhance the sense of stepping into Michelangelo’s private artistic space,” Marinazzo said.


Michelangelo, “Study for the Prophet Jonas.” Florence, Casa Buonarroti.

“The Genesis of the Sistine” is the culmination of 15 years of scholarship that began with Marinazzo’s study of Michelangelo’s drawings and letters at Casa Buonarroti in Florence. He worked closely with leaders of the Italian art world for many years, gaining unique access to archives and exposure to the rare materials that shape the exhibition.

“As I delved deeper into this rich archive, I began to recognize the significance of these works and their potential to reveal new insights into the artist’s creative process,” said Marinazzo. “Over the years, I published numerous studies on Michelangelo, which helped refine my understanding and broaden the conversation surrounding his art. Each publication contributed to the evolving narrative of Michelangelo’s genius, allowing me to build upon previous findings and draw connections between various works and themes.”


Michelangelo, “The Creation of Adam,” 1511. Vatican City, Sistine Chapel.

“Michelangelo: The Genesis of the Sistine” was made possible through the Muscarelle Museum of Art’s longstanding relationships with leading Italian museums, including the Uffizi Galleries, Casa Buonarroti and the Musei Reali Torino, all of which are lending artworks for the exhibition. Additionally, the Vatican Museums are providing original images of the Sistine Chapel for the exhibition catalogue authored by Marinazzo.