Fotoreproductie van een detail van het fresco Ezechël door Michelangelo in de Sixtijnse kapel 1851 - 1900

This photographic reproduction captures a detail of Michelangelo's fresco of Ezekiel in the Sistine Chapel. Made in the late 19th or early 20th century, it speaks to the enduring power of the Renaissance and the institutions that canonized it. Michelangelo's fresco, created in the early 16th century, formed part of a larger commission by the Vatican, solidifying its power through visual representations of biblical narratives. This photograph, likely taken during a period of burgeoning art history and museum culture, suggests the growing interest in making art accessible. The photograph translates the fresco into a new medium, catering to a wider audience beyond the Vatican. The photograph also points to the rise of art reproduction, a practice that democratized access to art but also raised questions about authenticity and aura. By studying photographic archives and museum records, we can better understand how images like this shaped our understanding of art history and the role of institutions in mediating artistic experience.