the recent restorers of the sistine chapel used computers, photography and spectrum technology to analyse the fresco before cleaning began.
they separated michelangelo's work from that of later restorers and discovered that the restorers had attempted to clean the ceiling with materials ranging from bread to retsina wine.
the new restoration revealed the familiarity dusky, eggshell-cracked figures to have creamy skins, lustrous hair and to be dressed in brightly-coloured, luscious robes:"a benetton michelangelo" mocked one critic, claiming that a layer of varnish which the artist had added to darken the colours had been removed.
however, after examining the work, most experts agreed that the new colours probably matched those painted by michelangelo.