another new Michelangelo . . . May 07, 2004 Not another new Michelangelo . . . Please excuse the skepticism, but given the number and frequency of claims that fall by the wayside, the caution is abundantly warranted: A small but anatomically perfect wooden Christ on the cross is set to cause a stir in the art world this weekend as it appears in Florence for the first time, billed as a hitherto unknown masterpiece by the city's most famous artist, Michelangelo Buonarroti. The Christ, carved from lime wood, is 41.3cm tall with an arm span of 39.7 cm, but has become detached from its cross. It will be on show at the Museo Horne in Florence from Saturday until July, when it returns to its private owner. The piece is thought to have been carved by 20-year-old Michelangelo in 1495, possibly for a monastery or a private family, and to have since changed hands between private owners, escaping the attention of Italian art authorities. From the Guardian , which rightly notes: But Michelangelo expert Professor William Wallace warned that the market for Michelangelo "finds" is so lucrative that one has been "discovered" every one or two years since 1900, and most have proved to be wrongly attributed to him. The article at the BBC has a picture. | |
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