The Sistine Chapel ceiling, painted by Michelangelo between 1508 and 1512, is a cornerstone work of High Renaissance art. The frescoes depict nine scenes from the Book of Genesis, including the most famous panel, "The Creation of Adam." Other scenes include the Separation of Light from Darkness, the Creation of the Sun, Moon, and Plants, the Creation of Eve, the Temptation and Expulsion from the Garden of Eden, the Sacrifice of Noah, the Great Flood, and the Drunkenness of Noah.

Surrounding these central scenes are depictions of Prophets and Sibyls, the Ancestors of Christ, and figures known as Ignudi. The complexity of the composition, the anatomical precision of the figures, and the vibrant use of color revolutionized the course of Western art.

Painted by Michelangelo on the altar wall of the Sistine Chapel between 1536 and 1541, "The Last Judgment" is a powerful and dramatic depiction of the Second Coming of Christ and the final and eternal judgment by God of all humanity. Christ is shown in the center, surrounded by saints and angels. The souls of the saved ascend to heaven on the left, while the damned are dragged down to Hell on the right.

The work was controversial in its time due to its depiction of nudity and its departure from traditional representations of the subject. It remains one of the most awe-inspiring and debated works of art in history.

The Sistine Chapel holds a significant role in the Catholic Church as the traditional site of the Papal Conclave, the process by which a new Pope is elected. When a Pope dies or resigns, the College of Cardinals gathers in the Sistine Chapel to elect his successor.

During the conclave, the cardinals are sequestered from the outside world (cum clave – "with a key"). They cast votes until a candidate receives a two-thirds majority. After each unsuccessful vote, the ballots are burned with chemicals to produce black smoke. When a Pope is successfully elected, the ballots are burned to produce white smoke (fumata bianca), signaling the news to the world waiting in St. Peter"s Square.