In 1508 Pope Julius II della Rovere commissioned Michelangelo to repaint the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel. It was designed to be - and still is - the pope's chapel and the site of papal elections. Michelangelo was asked to paint the Twelve Apostles and a few ornaments on the ceiling of the chapel. But as he began work on the project, Michelangelo conceived grander designs and ended up painting more than 300 figures. He worked on the project between 1508 and October 31, 1512, in cramped conditions high on scaffolding and under continuous pressure from the pope to hurry up. It is an unquestionable masterpiece, and Michelangelo s most famous work.