The lighting of the Sistine Chapel by Osram

Osram has recently fitted the Vatican’s Sistine Chapel with a new LED-based lighting solution.

Osram has now signed a multi-year framework collaboration with the Vatican museums.

The new lighting for the Sistine Chapel consists of around 7,000 LED light bulbs. The artwork is now seen more clearly as the new bulbs are 50 to 100 lux as opposed to the original 5 to 10. Even though the new lamps are brighter they will reduce power consumption by 60%.

The re-fitting of the lights in the Sistine Chapel is entitled LED4Art. The project has received funding from the European Union’s Information and Communication Technology Policy Support program as part of the competitions and Innovations Framework Program. The aim of the program is to demonstrate new possibilities for LED technology in regards to energy efficiency and improved quality of light.

Head of Osram’s Luminaires Businesss Unit, Christophe Poméon, said:

Osram and the Vatican Museums aim to further develop scientific co-operation to find new technologies to ensure that the artistic heritage of the Vatican Museums is safeguarded. The extension agreement underlines that we are offering high-end innovative lighting solutions.

Director of the Vatican Museums, Antonio Paolucci, said:

Our art and architecture present the most demanding requirements for light. With the opening of the Sistine chapel at the end of October 2014, the visiting public will have their first opportunity to make a judgement of the improvements.