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| Bedford coffee shop boasts Michelangelo fresco recreation | Bedford coffee shop boasts Michelangelo fresco recreation |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| A fresco painted on the side of a Bedford coffee house using an ancient artform may "last for a thousand years", the shop's owner claims. | A fresco painted on the side of a Bedford coffee house using an ancient artform may "last for a thousand years", the shop's owner claims. |
| Part of Michelangelo's Libyan Sibyl has been recreated on the outside wall of Frescoes in Mill Street. | Part of Michelangelo's Libyan Sibyl has been recreated on the outside wall of Frescoes in Mill Street. |
| Artist Iain Carstairs used pigment paint on lime plaster, a technique dating back to about 1500BC. | Artist Iain Carstairs used pigment paint on lime plaster, a technique dating back to about 1500BC. |
| Shop owner Kevin Kavanagh, said: "The building will fall down before it fades." | Shop owner Kevin Kavanagh, said: "The building will fall down before it fades." |
| He said the piece, copied from a work currently on the ceiling of Rome's Sistine Chapel, took three months and approximately £12,000 to complete. | He said the piece, copied from a work currently on the ceiling of Rome's Sistine Chapel, took three months and approximately £12,000 to complete. |
| 'Local impact' | 'Local impact' |
| He added he was "delighted" with the result. | He added he was "delighted" with the result. |
| "Painting on lime with pigment paint gives it longevity, which is why you can see works of art around the world which have lasted for hundreds of years," he said. | "Painting on lime with pigment paint gives it longevity, which is why you can see works of art around the world which have lasted for hundreds of years," he said. |
| "The lime plaster mix that you put on first, you could hit it with a sledgehammer and it wouldn't break." | "The lime plaster mix that you put on first, you could hit it with a sledgehammer and it wouldn't break." |
| The Frescoes' owner, who describes himself as a "bit of an art lover", regularly displays pieces from local artists in his shop. | The Frescoes' owner, who describes himself as a "bit of an art lover", regularly displays pieces from local artists in his shop. |
| Local people contributed to the cost but most of it came from Mr Kavanagh's own pocket. | Local people contributed to the cost but most of it came from Mr Kavanagh's own pocket. |
| He said it was his way of "adding to the culture of the town". | He said it was his way of "adding to the culture of the town". |
| "It's had a tremendous impact locally and really taken off," said Mr Kavanagh. | "It's had a tremendous impact locally and really taken off," said Mr Kavanagh. |
| "People have been amazed to see the incredible work that has gone into it and the final result certainly has the wow factor." | "People have been amazed to see the incredible work that has gone into it and the final result certainly has the wow factor." |
| Artist Mr Carstairs said: "I hadn't realised how tricky it would be but I am very happy with the result and want to do some more." |