No photos are allowed and it can be difficult to see the details of the lofty scenes.
At 822 pages,The Sistine Chapelweighs in at 75 pounds of art history.
Two photographers worked much like Michelangelo didusing scaffolding constructed nightly after the tourists emptied the chapel.
Photo:Callaway Arts & Entertainment
Over 65 nights, they collectively photographed270,000 imageswhich were then digitally stitched together.
The photos are rendered through state-of-the-art color printing so that each image matches the tones of the original.
Unlike the in-person experience, readers can see brushstrokes, cracks, and small details.
Photo:Callaway Arts & Entertainment
Volume one is entitledThe Frescoes of the 15th Centurywhich line the walls.
Volume two,The Ceiling, focuses on the famous lofty frescoes.
Lastly, volume three,The Last Judgement, contains the artwork behind the altar.
Costing $22,000 for the set, the books are bound in silk and only 600 are in English.
The total print run in any language is 1,999 copies with no possibility for further print runs.
While certainly a luxury, this book set is a once-in-a-lifetime chance to get close to a masterpiece.
