St John as a Boy

This statue is the only sculpture by Michelangelo Buonarroti in Spain. It depicts Saint John the Baptist as a boy (ca 1495-1496). It was smashed to pieces during the Spanish Civil War. The Fundación Casa Ducal de Medinaceli-Sevilla commissioned its restoration by the Opificio delle Pietre Dure e Laboratori di Restauro in Florence. The work began in 1994. Using 3D laser volumetric reconstruction and a goodly supply of resin, the statue was carefully pieced together. It is on display in the Prado Museum (CLICK).