How did he go to the bathroom? Did his neck hurt? What if his arms got tired?Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel masterpiece is one of the most recognized in the world. Simulating his awkward painting position was our introduction to learning more about the Renaissance movement.

Sistine Chapel Simulation

It’s challenging enough to paint sitting or standing up. Michelangelo painted the Sistine Chapel ceiling in a variety of uncomfortable positions: laying on his back, leaning far back from a standing position. This sometimes made him light-headed and confused. Hope he had a good chiropractor.

To imagine what it was like for Mike, we taped paper under the table, set up scaffolding (aka pillows), and attempted our own masterpieces. The questions and comments flowed freely alongside the giggles. “This is so hard!” “What if the paint dripped in his face?” “Wait, he didn’t have electricity- let’s try a lantern!”

During our visit to the Sistine Chapel, the boys pointed out the key stories we studied ahead of time and identified Michelangelo’s obscure self-portrait. They stared up at the ceiling and remembered when we simulated it at home.

Michelangelo the Sculptor

One important aspect of Renaissance Art is the shift from flat, two-dimensional figures to realistic, three-dimensional ones. This was evident in the Accademi Gallery in Florence, Italy where Michelangelo’s David stands. In comparison to the cartoon-like visuals of Medieval art, Renaissance features an emphasis on realistic human figures. We learned that Michelangelo’s exploration of autopsies contributed to his exquisite sculpting of the human form. We loved seeing the human figures emerging from his unfinished blocks of marble.

Kid’s Tour of Palazzo Vecchio

One of Michelangelo’s patrons was the famous Lorenzo de’ Medici of Florence. The kid’s tour of the Old Palace where the Medici family once lived came highly recommended. Our guide made the experience come to life through storytelling, visuals, and games. They loved searching for Cosimo’s turtles in each room and trying on the clothes from this time period. Exploring the palace gave us context for the time when Michelangelo lived.

Personally, one of my pre-trip reads was Dan Brown’s Inferno and I loved getting to go through the secret passageway behind Armenia in the map room.

Art Scavenger Hunt

For this trip, the boys each had a small notebook. The art and structures we learned about before the trip were printed for them to glue in along our journey. I asked them to write a little about what they noticed or learned at each one.

They noticed how realistic Michelangelo’s paintings and sculptures were as a result of his study of the human form. They learned about how wealthy patrons sponsored artists during the Renaissance.

Where are you headed next?

• Could you simulate something unique that an artist or historical figure did?
• What other opportunities are there to build a context for the time period connected to the famous figure?
• Find a tour that is designed especially for kids. Check Viator, GetYourGuide, in addition to the location’s website.
• Create a scavenger hunt to help your child emphasize key art or visuals from your destination.