A mural can fill an entire wall or ceiling.
The first murals were believed to be paintings discovered in the Caves of Lascaux in France. The prehistoric cave paintings were mostly of animals and human hand prints. Through the years, artists have painted many murals -- artworks that cover a large surface, such as a wall or ceiling -- that went on to become famous.
Sistine Chapel Ceiling
The ceiling of the Sistine Chapel was painted by Michaelangelo and was revealed to the world in 1512. Pope Julius II asked Michaelangelo to paint the twelve apostles, but the finished painting includes over 3,000 figures. Michaelangelo built special scaffolding for himself to reach the ceiling that is 68 feet off the ground. The ceiling took four years to complete and is still considered one of the world's greatest artistic masterpieces.
Guernica
Guernica is one of the most famous paintings by Pablo Picasso. He was commissioned by the Spanish government in 1937 to decorate the Spanish Pavilion, which was an exhibition building that was built for the World's Fair. He chose to depict the violent consequences of the bombing of Guernica, the first aerial bombardment that attacked a civilian population. It's painted in black and white and has been shown in museums in cities throughout the world. It is currently on display at the Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofía in Madrid, Spain.
The Last Supper
The Last Supper by Leonardo DaVinci is a revered mural that measures 15 feet x 29 feet. He was asked by the Duke of Milan in 1495 to paint the mural and it took three years to complete. It depicts the biblical story of Jesus and the apostles sharing a meal the day before Jesus is crucified. The original mural is on a wall in the Convent of Santa Maria delle Grazie in Milan, Italy, and has been restored many times over the years.
The Making of a Fresco Showing the Building of a City
San Francisco is home to many well-known murals, and "The Making of a Fresco Showing the Building of a City" is one of four in the Bay Area painted by Diego Rivera. Originally from Mexico, Rivera was commissioned by William Gerstle, a San Francisco Art Association official. Gerstle had to outbid Ortiz Rubio, the president of Mexico, who wanted Rivera to paint murals at the National Palace. The mural depicts the building of a modern city, including portraits of some of the individuals who worked on the painting. Rivera also painted himself in the mural near the top with his back to the viewer. It was completed in 1931 and is a permanent piece of the San Francisco Art Institute.
