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| Controversy over 'Michelangelo' sculpture | Controversy over 'Michelangelo' sculpture |
| (1 day later) | |
| The sculpture takes centre stage among a series of painting and other artwork By Duncan Kennedy BBC News, Rome | The sculpture takes centre stage among a series of painting and other artwork By Duncan Kennedy BBC News, Rome |
| The Italian art world is in a messy "is it or isn't it" debate over a wooden sculpture that may or may not have been made by Michelangelo. | The Italian art world is in a messy "is it or isn't it" debate over a wooden sculpture that may or may not have been made by Michelangelo. |
| Standing just 40cm (16 inches) high, it depicts Christ on the Cross, but leading art experts simply cannot agree who made it. | Standing just 40cm (16 inches) high, it depicts Christ on the Cross, but leading art experts simply cannot agree who made it. |
| This is not a tale about fakery or imitation - everyone says the statue is a Renaissance piece of art from around 1495, when Michelangelo would have been 20. | This is not a tale about fakery or imitation - everyone says the statue is a Renaissance piece of art from around 1495, when Michelangelo would have been 20. |
| But who actually crafted it? That is the question. | But who actually crafted it? That is the question. |
| The controversy has been rekindled because of a new exhibition in Naples to display the sculpture - minus the cross, which incidentally disappeared somewhere in antiquity leaving the figure of Christ these days hanging mid-air connected to a sheet of transparent plastic. | |
| Dubious provenance | Dubious provenance |
| Amid the splendid grandeur of a former cathedral, the sculpture takes centre stage among a series of paintings, tapestries and other works, including a golden sculpture that is said to contain a splinter of the True Cross, upon which Jesus was said to be crucified. | |
| The cross has disappeared, leaving the figure of Christ suspended in mid-air | The cross has disappeared, leaving the figure of Christ suspended in mid-air |
| And for critics, it is the association with religion that is part of the problem. | And for critics, it is the association with religion that is part of the problem. |
| They say the government has endorsed the wooden sculpture as a work by Michelangelo to boost its standing with the Catholic Church, and to burnish its credentials with the electorate as a government of conservative beliefs. | |
| In other words, say the doubters, the sculpture is being used for political, even propaganda, uses by a government intent on spending tax payers money to pursue dubious quasi-artistic ends. | |
| In fact, the bill was just over $4m (£2.5m). | In fact, the bill was just over $4m (£2.5m). |
| Those who believe it to be by Michelangelo say it is money well spent saving it for the nation. | Those who believe it to be by Michelangelo say it is money well spent saving it for the nation. |
| Those who do not say the money has, at best, been squandered on a piece of dubious provenance. | Those who do not say the money has, at best, been squandered on a piece of dubious provenance. |
| They add that had it been a genuine Michelangelo it would have sold for 10 times the amount, so rarely do his works come to market. | They add that had it been a genuine Michelangelo it would have sold for 10 times the amount, so rarely do his works come to market. |
| 'Anatomical accuracy' | 'Anatomical accuracy' |
| So, let us examine the positions, if not the evidence, of both sides. | So, let us examine the positions, if not the evidence, of both sides. |
| It is of the highest quality, way above that of other artists at the time Cristina Acidini LuchinatFlorence State Museum | It is of the highest quality, way above that of other artists at the time Cristina Acidini LuchinatFlorence State Museum |
| I say "not the evidence" because, frankly, there is none - there are no signatures on the statue nor documentation to support its authorship. | I say "not the evidence" because, frankly, there is none - there are no signatures on the statue nor documentation to support its authorship. |
| "Even major works of art rarely have supportive documents," said Cristina Acidini Luchinat, the superintendent of Florence's state museum and a renowned expert on Renaissance art. | "Even major works of art rarely have supportive documents," said Cristina Acidini Luchinat, the superintendent of Florence's state museum and a renowned expert on Renaissance art. |
| Mrs Acidini has lent her support and considerable authority to the exhibition. | Mrs Acidini has lent her support and considerable authority to the exhibition. |
| "These pieces don't come with a written guarantee," she said. | "These pieces don't come with a written guarantee," she said. |
| She told me she was impressed by the anatomical accuracy and portrayal of the human body found in the sculpture. | She told me she was impressed by the anatomical accuracy and portrayal of the human body found in the sculpture. |
| "It is of the highest quality, way above that of other artists at the time," she said. | "It is of the highest quality, way above that of other artists at the time," she said. |
| I pressed Mrs Acidini about this and asked if she believed the work was by Michelangelo. | I pressed Mrs Acidini about this and asked if she believed the work was by Michelangelo. |
| "You can attribute it to Michelangelo, certainly," she replied. | "You can attribute it to Michelangelo, certainly," she replied. |
| "Does 'attribute' mean you are sure it's by him?" I asked. | "Does 'attribute' mean you are sure it's by him?" I asked. |
| "I am as sure as I can possibly be," she said. | "I am as sure as I can possibly be," she said. |
| Others go further. | Others go further. |
| "To survive, a young artist would have had to do small works of this sort," says Giancarlo Gentilini, a Renaissance art expert. "We can't only associate Michelangelo with masterpieces." | "To survive, a young artist would have had to do small works of this sort," says Giancarlo Gentilini, a Renaissance art expert. "We can't only associate Michelangelo with masterpieces." |
| Advertisement | Advertisement |
| Italy rows over statue's origins | Italy rows over statue's origins |
| 'Scandal' | 'Scandal' |
| But when it comes to the sceptics, there is an equal, if opposing, readiness to step in and deploy withering counter-arguments. | But when it comes to the sceptics, there is an equal, if opposing, readiness to step in and deploy withering counter-arguments. |
| I went to Florence, where Michelangelo was raised and worked, to meet two other world-class specialists on Renaissance art, Tomasso Montanari and Francesco Caglioti. | I went to Florence, where Michelangelo was raised and worked, to meet two other world-class specialists on Renaissance art, Tomasso Montanari and Francesco Caglioti. |
| When it comes to this statue, it is like comparing a Ford with a Ferrari Professor Tomasso Montanari | When it comes to this statue, it is like comparing a Ford with a Ferrari Professor Tomasso Montanari |
| I asked each, in turn, if they thought Michelangelo had carved the statue. | I asked each, in turn, if they thought Michelangelo had carved the statue. |
| "No" and "no" came back the stereophonic replies. | "No" and "no" came back the stereophonic replies. |
| "When it comes to this statue, it is like comparing a Ford with a Ferrari," Professor Montanari said. | "When it comes to this statue, it is like comparing a Ford with a Ferrari," Professor Montanari said. |
| "This is way below the standard of Michelangelo," he added. "It is like it has come off a production line and could have been made by any one of a dozen wood carvers of the time." | "This is way below the standard of Michelangelo," he added. "It is like it has come off a production line and could have been made by any one of a dozen wood carvers of the time." |
| Professor Caglioti agreed. | Professor Caglioti agreed. |
| "It's a scandal," he said. "The muscle definition is all wrong. | "It's a scandal," he said. "The muscle definition is all wrong. |
| "Michelangelo rarely worked in wood. He rarely made small pieces like this. His contemporary biographers make no mention of his having made small works in wood," he added. | "Michelangelo rarely worked in wood. He rarely made small pieces like this. His contemporary biographers make no mention of his having made small works in wood," he added. |
| Public unaware | Public unaware |
| It is rumoured that at least one museum outside Italy turned down the chance to exhibit the piece as a Michelangelo, so doubtful was it about its authenticity. | It is rumoured that at least one museum outside Italy turned down the chance to exhibit the piece as a Michelangelo, so doubtful was it about its authenticity. |
| The posters for exhibitions including the sculpture leave people in no doubt | The posters for exhibitions including the sculpture leave people in no doubt |
| But here in Italy, whenever and wherever it is exhibited, the public get no hint at the experts' misgivings. | But here in Italy, whenever and wherever it is exhibited, the public get no hint at the experts' misgivings. |
| The posters and publicity for the current exhibition leave you with no doubt that you are paying to see a work by Michelangelo. His name does not appear in inverted commas, or come with a question mark. | The posters and publicity for the current exhibition leave you with no doubt that you are paying to see a work by Michelangelo. His name does not appear in inverted commas, or come with a question mark. |
| Few of the experts I spoke to on both sides of this dispute could remember a similar, deeply polarised, row about a piece of art. | Few of the experts I spoke to on both sides of this dispute could remember a similar, deeply polarised, row about a piece of art. |
| "It's a shame," said Professor Montanari, "because all this is making Italy look foolish. | "It's a shame," said Professor Montanari, "because all this is making Italy look foolish. |
| "It is harming our reputation as the world centre of culture and expertise." | "It is harming our reputation as the world centre of culture and expertise." |
| No-one doubts the statue is beautiful, but is it a Michelangelo? | No-one doubts the statue is beautiful, but is it a Michelangelo? |