Brandon Truffa

After four long years, Michelangelo finally unveils the completed Sistine Chapel ceiling. The Chapel's ceiling is roughly 600 square meters, nearly the size of three tennis courts; a monumental task that Michelangelo painted almost entirely by himself. While Pope Julius II is thrilled with the finished product, four years of backbreaking labor leaves Michelangelo broken and questioning his faith.

Denja Harris opened her first solo museum exhibition this week at the Oceanside Museum of Art. Her soft sculptures explore perceptions of being a Black woman and invite viewers to embrace the unknown.

Failing to secure commissions in Florence, Leonardo travels to Milan where he is determined to make his name at the court of the Duke of Sforza. He turns his hand to designing of weapons of war… but is also given the freedom to indulge his creativity and thirst for knowledge.

After making their names in Rome and Milan, Michelangelo and Leonardo both return to Florence, where the stage is set for a fierce rivalry between the two great artists – each determined to prove himself Florence’s favorite son.

The greatest artworks in western civilization emerged from one of the bloodiest periods in history. This series explores the lives of three of the greatest artists in history – Michelangelo, Leonardo and Raphael – as they craft beauty from chaos.