Experiencing the Sistine Chapel One Pixel at a Time
I went to the Sistine Chapel yesterday. Virtually, of course. A friend on Facebook posted a link with the comment, “Prepare to be humbled.” The virtual tour is provided by the Vatican itself, and in it you can view the room as a whole or zoom in to see details of the paintings. By manipulating your mouse you can see 360 degree views of the four walls, floor, and, of course, the famed ceiling. The experience is heightened by the accompaniment of some beautifully peaceful ecclesiastical music. I have to say, it’s quite profound. In an earlier blog post I had said a virtual tour could never replace the real thing, and I still believe it. That said, instead of looking at the glass as half full, I might look at it the other way and say that experiencing a virtual tour (and in this case it IS an experience) beats the heck out of viewing still photographs any day. Take a quiet moment out of your day and click here to see if you agree with me.
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