Saturday 6 June 2009

Michelangelo Christ?

Christ on the Cross attributed to MichelangeloAccording to Duncan Kennedy, BBC News (title link), debate has raged for months in Italy's art world over this 40 cm-high wooden statue of Christ on the Cross, attributed to Michelangelo, for which the Italian government lashed out $4.5m (£2.8m). It was bought on the strength of expert opinion that Michelangelo had sculpted it; but, since the purchase, other art experts have given it the raspberry. The Audit Court of Rome has now launched an official inquiry to try to establish whether the government was fleeced. The Ministry of Culture is "shocked" by this move. Good. It's high time elitist art establishments were challenged on their money-wasting assertions as to the value of works of art. I can see nothing of Michelangelo's emphasis on musculature in this statue, nor his playfulness with perspective. It's a competent crucifix which has lost its cross. There were many Renaissance craftsmen who could have executed this piece. Without proof, any attribution to Michelangelo is wishful thinking.

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