Final answer:
Michelangelo used the fresco technique to paint the Sistine Chapel's ceiling, requiring him to apply paint onto sections of wet plaster while on specially designed scaffolding over four years.
Step-by-step explanation:
Michelangelo painted the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel using the fresco technique, which involves applying paint onto wet plaster. To accomplish the grandeur of the Sistine Chapel's ceiling, he laboriously worked section by section, applying fresh plaster and then painting it while it was still wet. This process required careful preparation of both the plaster and the pigments to ensure the colors would remain vibrant and chemically stable over time. The frescoes required Michelangelo to design special scaffolding that allowed him to work comfortably on the curved ceiling, despite the project's physical demands including spending four long years with his neck craned upward.
The entire process was quite labor-intensive, as seen in the meticulous creation of the Libyan Sibyl, a detail from the ceiling. He often mixed pigments carefully, sometimes creating several samples to achieve the subtle color transitions needed for the fresco's intricate details. Michelangelo's dedication and artistry resulted in a masterpiece that has endured for centuries, making the Sistine Chapel ceiling one of the most iconic frescoes in history.