Vatican conservators are currently undertaking a delicate restoration of Michelangelo’s 16th-century masterpiece, The Last Judgement, to remove a white film caused by tourist sweat. The accumulation of lactic acid and calcium carbonate, exacerbated by record-high visitor numbers and rising temperatures, has created a "cataract" effect that obscures the fresco's original vibrancy. Using distilled water and Japanese rice paper, specialists are cleaning the monumental work to reveal long-hidden details in the figures of Christ and the surrounding saints.
This project highlights the growing tension between mass tourism and the preservation of world heritage sites. To protect the frescoes long-term, the Vatican Museums are implementing new humidity filtration systems and capping daily visitor numbers at 24,000. The restoration, which follows the recent decade-long conservation of the Hall of Constantine, is scheduled for completion in early April, ensuring the survival of one of the High Renaissance's most significant artistic achievements.