Founded by Pope Julius II in the early 16th century, the Vatican Museums began with a collection of sculptures. Over five centuries, successive popes have expanded the collection, transforming it into a vast complex of 54 galleries spanning approximately 9 miles (14 kilometers) of corridors. What started as a private papal collection has become a public testament to humanity's artistic and cultural achievements.

Built between 1473 and 1481 under Pope Sixtus IV (from whom it takes its name), the chapel was designed by architect Giovannino de Dolci. The rectangular building measures 40.9 meters long by 13.4 meters wide—the same dimensions given in the Old Testament for Solomon's Temple. The chapel's exterior is relatively plain, giving no hint of the spectacular treasures within.