Thread by @MyDoncaster

For 4 years, Michelangelo painted the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel. A breath-taking masterpiece and treasure of humanity.

And now, a council from South Yorkshire is going to use him to make a point about #Coronavirus.

It’s time for a history lesson from Doncaster Council.

We know what you’re thinking – a true visionary genius like Michelangelo becoming the subject of a public service twitter thread by a metropolitan borough local authority?

And you’re right – he WOULD be proud.

Let’s get into the story.

In 1508, Michelangelo was nothing more than a humble 33 year-old genius sculptor, who was working on making an ornate marble tomb.

But then Pope Julius approached him to paint the Sistine Chapel’s ceiling. He wasn’t interested.

(Apparently, though, in 16th-century Italy you pretty much do as the Pope tells you to, so Michelangelo eventually agreed)

The first hurdle was how to get up to the ceiling – it’s 44 feet above the chapel floor.

Or, to put that in to a measurement that all Doncastrians will understand, approximately 7.5 Brian Blesseds in height.

Because Michaelangelo was FAIRLY clever, he designed his own scaffold to do the job. He slotted timber struts into holes on the walls, and even included a layer of cloth to catch falling debris and paint splatter.

No wonder he was so well-reviewed on Trust A Trader.

A small team helped with the initial works, including plastering some of the ceiling ready for Michelangelo to work his magic.

When it came to the painting, though, the ENTIRE chapel was done by just the one man.

‘Wouldn’t that take ages?’ we hear you ask and yes, Tracy, yes it would.

It took four years for the work to be completed.

Many of us have experienced the challenge of getting halfway through a project and losing enthusiasm – so imagine the level of patience and dedication required to paint things like this for 4 YEARS.

(See if you can spot which one of these ISN'T by the patient Michelangelo)

Not only was the work painstakingly detailed, but it was actually painful.

Michelangelo painted the entire ceiling in a standing position, with his neck bent backwards and his face to the sky.

In a letter to a friend, he wrote the following description:

My loins into my paunch like levers grind:
My buttock like a crupper bears my weight;
My feet unguided wander to and fro;
In front my skin grows loose and long; behind,
By bending it becomes more taut and strait;

After four years of this ordeal, the ceiling was complete.

Its breath-taking beauty sustains to this day, and every year millions of people flock to the Vatican City to catch a glimpse of it.

(Perhaps not in 2020 though)

And now, 500 years after completing his masterpiece, comes the proudest moment of Michelangelo’s career.

It’s time for Doncaster Council to crowbar in some lessons about #Coronavirus into his story.

Well, firstly, those of us who have spent quarantine painting the back bedroom can be thankful that it hasn’t taken 4 years.

Also, the job has probably been a lot less intricate than Michelangelo’s.

Secondly, let’s remember that even things we don’t want to do can be worthwhile.

Michelangelo didn't want this job, but it turned out to be his masterpiece.

Similarly, we wouldn’t have chosen to stay put and miss our families – but it might turn out to be the most important thing we’ve ever done.

And the final lesson, of course, is patience.

If this genius can get through four years of backbreaking work, we can get through more weeks of physical distancing and taking care of ourselves.

It’ll be worth the effort in the end – just ask our old friend Michelangelo.

#covid19 #coronavirus #StaySafe