Michelangelo fights censorship and an autocratic pope to paint the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel.

In 1508, Pope Julius II, whose army is in constant warfare with neighboring states, has commissioned Michelangelo to create 40 statues for his tomb which is to be located in the new St. Peter's Basilica. The pope later asks Michelangelo to halt work on the tomb and decorate the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel, but the artist argues that he is not a painter. Nevertheless, he begins at the pope's insistence, but, discouraged by the mediocrity of his drawings, he destroys them and runs away to the marble quarries in the mountains. While there, he sees visions from Genesis and decides to use them for the theme of the ceiling paintings. He returns to Rome and begs the angered pope to allow him to continue his work. Against many obstacles, including an accidental fall and temporary blindness from the dripping paint, progress continues slowly with constant encouragement from Julius. Fearful that he may not return from battle, the pope orders the artist to let him view the unfinished work, but Michelangelo refuses. While Julius is on the battlefield, however, Michelangelo goes to him at the insistence of the Contessina de' Medici and apologizes for his action. When the wounded pope returns to Rome and is believed to be dying, Michelangelo visits him and persuades him to go to the Easter mass in the chapel. At the mass, Julius is awed by the magnificence of the mural; and Michelangelo requests to continue work on the sculptures for the pope's tomb.