After running out of space on his walls, a retired decorator transformed his 3-bed council home into a Renaissance palace inspired by Sistine Chapel.
Robert Burns, age 74 from Brighton, Sussex began to paint his council house after he and his wife moved into the three-bed terraced home.
Robert, who was inspired by the Vatican City’s famous chapel, has spent more than 10 years painting his house.
He has recreated art from some of the world’s most famous artists, including Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, and Sandro Botticelli.
Robert Burns transformed his council house with three beds into a Sistine Chapel-inspired renaissance palace. He finally finished his project, after running out room.
Each inch is covered in elaborate frescoes that were inspired by the 15th-century works of famous Italian painters. They include gilt-edged portraits of Mary and nativity scenes.
Robert, who was inspired by the Vatican City’s famous chapel, has spent more that a decade painting the house he calls home.
After moving in to the three-bed, terraced Brighton house as a couple with Linda, he began to paint it.
Robert said: ‘We won’t ever move out of this home and the next people that do eventually move in can choose to paint over it all if they wish to’
The retired decorator spent 18 years covering every ceiling, wall and corridor in his home. He is now ready to retire.
The ceilings and walls are covered in intricate frescoes, inspired by works from 15th century Italian painters.
Robert stated that he felt the home was simple and boring when he moved into it in 2003.
“I was a regular visitor to Lewes’ car boot sales and found pictures of Sistine Chapel in a book. It made me think, that this is an extraordinary place.
“I bought more books in charity shops. I collected beautiful books and took their inspirations.
You can decorate the council homes in your own way, and that is what I decided to do.
“I found my true talent in painting only when I redecorated the house. It was then that I realized how much I enjoyed being an artist.
‘I have no more space so I’ve moved onto painting canvases and I just stack them up in the spare room.’
Robert’s Sistine Chapel reconstruction took three times the time it took Michelangelo for his masterpiece in Rome. The replica was made using information about the chapel from books.
Robert stated that his labor of love stemmed from boredom at painting houses of other people in pastel, neutral colours.
He spent 18 years painting walls, ceilings, and hallways in his home. The former decorator is now ready to retire.
Robert shared his thoughts: “When I first moved into this home, 2003, it felt very plain and basic throughout. It was my habit to go to Lewes’ car boot sales. There, I discovered a book with photos of Sistine Chapel.
Robert stated that his labor of love stemmed from boredom at painting houses of others in pastel, neutral colours.
After a divorce, he moved in to his first council house.
It took him three times longer to create the Sistine Chapel reconstruction than it did for Michelangelo’s masterpiece in Rome.
Robert’s extraordinary feat is made even more remarkable by the fact the skilled artist had never visited Italy or learned how to paint before starting the project. He instead chose to make the paintings out of coffee-table books.
Robert Burns, with Gareth Southgate’s painting of England manager. Since he no longer has the space for it to hang in his own home, he decided to fill it.
Robert had never been to Italy, nor been taught to paint before he started his project. Instead of trying to replicate the paintings using coffee-table art books, he chose to do so from home.
Robert Burns, aged 74, is a Brighton resident who creates all of his works in the studio his council home.
He shares his house with Linda, and it is covered with patterns and paintings of the Renaissance period.
They now look just like the Vatican, with their three bedrooms and hallways, and even the kitchen and dining room.
Robert started the ambitious task of finishing his home after buying a Renaissance book for £2 at a car boot sale in Lewes in 2003, and spent less than £500 on acrylic paint over the 18-year period..
His house which he lives in with Linda is covered by patterns and paintings of the Renaissance period.
The three bedrooms, living and dining rooms, as well as the hallway and kitchen have been completely transformed to look just like what you would see at the Vatican.
He had painted Russell Brand, a comedian and former footballer Wayne Rooney as Jesus. Jose Mourinho was previously depicted Leonardo da Vinci as Salvator Mundi.
Robert retired in 2010 as a painter/decorator, which gave him more time to work on his masterpiece.
He decided to keep painting in the house and not move out.
Robert was also dusting throughout his home, cleaning out all frames, ceilings, and chandeliers during the lockdown.
He has been painting so much during lockdown that he has finally run out of room to display his paintings of celebrities
Robert, in the hallway of his Renaissance council house. He retired as a painter and decorator in 2010, which allowed him to spend more time working on his masterpiece
Robert, despite being out of space, has made a vow to remain in his home and paint renaissance-style canvases even though he is unable to. He also said that he and his wife will never leave.
Father-of-3 had already painted Russell Brand the comedian as Jesus. He was also Wayne Rooney, ex-footballer and prayer partner of Wayne Rooney. Jose Mourinho played Leonardo da Vinci’s Salvator Mundi.
He added: ‘I’ve began painting celebrities in renaissance style; my most recent has been Phillip Schofield and Holly Willoughby.
“During the initial lockdown, Boris Johnson was also my subject and I did some Sandro Botticelli-inspired paintings.
‘We won’t ever move out of this home and the next people that do eventually move in can choose to paint over it all if they wish to.’
Robert was approached by a millionaire from Brighton to redecorate his ballroom ceiling at his mansion in Horsham. The project took him three months.
The Sistine Chapel ceiling, painted by Michelangelo in Italy between 1508-1512, is a well-known work of art that has drawn many visitors all over the globe.
THE SISTINE CHAPEL: THE TIMELESS WORK OF RENAISSANCE GREAT MICHELANGELO
The Sistine Chapel can be found in the Apostolic Palace in the Vatican. Italian painter Michelangelo was commissioned by Pope Julius II to paint the ceiling, which he completed between 1508 and 1512.
Originally he was to paint twelve apostles, but he demanded that a completely free design be created for the scheme.
The completed ceiling features a series of 9 paintings showing God’s Creation of the World, God’s Relationship with Mankind, and Mankind’s Fall from God’s Grace
Between 1535-1541, Michelangelo painted The Last Judgement on the wall at the altar. His works are still popular and have been visited by thousands.
Six million people flock annually to the Sistine Chapel to view the incredible artwork.
The chapel’s side walls are split into three main levels.
The Life of Moses, and The Life of Christ are the central paintings. They were commissioned in 1480 by Pope Sixtus IV and executed by Domenico Ghirlandaio, Sandro Botticelli, Pietro Perugino, Cosimo Roselli and their workshops.
You will also find The Gallery of Popes and Lives in the upper tier.
Raphael, a 1515 commissionee was given the task of designing ten tapestries for the wall’s lower level to show the life of St Peter & St Paul.
They took 4 years to finish and were stolen during the Sack of Rome, 1527.
The second set, which was also made of similar copies at that time, was assembled in late 20th-century and hangs in chapel since 1983.
In order to preserve the fragile frescos, it was announced that 6 million visitors will only be allowed to visit the Sistine Chapel each year.