How did Michelangelo paint the Sistine Chapel ceiling from scaffolding?

Contrary to the common misconception that he painted while lying on his back, Michelangelo executed the Sistine Chapel ceiling while standing on an extensive scaffold, reaching upward and craning his neck to reach the surface.1

Because he was initially unfamiliar with the medium of fresco, he and his assistants relied on hundreds of preliminary sketches to transfer outlines onto the freshly plastered ceiling. As he gained confidence, he worked with increasing speed, eventually abandoning these preparatory drawings and incisions.12

To create the work, he primarily utilized the buon fresco technique, which requires the artist to paint quickly on wet plaster before it dries. For finer details, such as facial features, scholars believe he likely employed the fresco secco technique, painting onto a dry plaster surface. Michelangelo completed the massive project almost entirely single-handedly, as he found that the craftsmen assigned to assist him did not meet his exacting standards.12