Forum Views ()
Forum Replies ()
Read more with google mobile :
US art sleuth claims new Michelangelo find
Yahoo!
My Yahoo!
Mail
More Yahoo! Services
Account Options
New User? Sign Up
Sign In
Help
Yahoo! Search
web search
Home
Singapore
Asia Pacific
World
Business
Entertainment
Sports
Technology
Weekend Edition
World
US art sleuth claims new Michelangelo find
AFP - Thursday, February 24
Send
IM Story
Print
US art sleuth claims new Michelangelo find
ROME (AFP) - – A US art detective says he has proof a garish terracotta statue found discarded in a mouldy cardboard box in an Italian antiques shop is an original model by Michelangelo for his famous Pieta.
"When I first set eyes on the statue I couldn't speak for fully 10 minutes, it was so beautiful. Such mastery, it's impossible to capture in words," Roy Doliner told AFP in Rome this week as he presented his book on the discovery.
"I knew at once it was an original Michelangelo," he said, a conviction that drove him to challenge Italy's art experts, who had ascribed the 'Madonna della Febbre' statue of Mary cradling Jesus to Renaissance sculptor Andrea Bregno.
Doliner said the young Michelangelo would have made the terracotta model before embarking on the full marble statue. Italian experts say the work was by Bregno but it helped inspired Michelangelo's far more celebrated 15th-century sculpture.
The art detective and writer, who first unveiled his findings in December, won't disclose the whereabouts of the statue, though it has been seen and photographed by journalists.
Doliner was called in by a private collector who had discovered and bought the statue, had restored it and found what he thought were Jewish symbols etched onto the bottom of it which might prove the work was Michelangelo's.
Rebutted by traditional art historians, the collector turned to self-styled historical consultant Doliner, who specialises in Michelangelo mysteries and has written a book on codes hidden in the Sistine Chapel ceiling.
"When it was found, the statue looked like a kitsch knock-off. It was covered in Scotch tape and had been painted over many times. It took three years to restore," said Doliner, who divides his time between Rome and New York.
"The restorers did every scientific test imaginable to date it, and narrowed it down to between 1473 and 1496," he added, making both Bregno and Michelangelo possible authors.
Though the Jewish letters turned out to be nothing more than marks left by the baking process when the terracotta statue was fired, Doliner's curiosity was piqued and he set out to discover the artist behind the work.
"After many years of researching Michelangelo, I can spot his modus operandi a mile away," said Doliner, also a specialist in Judaica, explaining how he used the Talmud and "Jewish Sherlock Holmes techniques" to crack the case.
Doliner said the statue couldn't be by Bregno, who specialised in building wall tombs for top-ranking cardinals, because the artist had never worked in terracotta, preferring to sketch his draft ideas.
The length of the statue also suggests it was made by Michelangelo, the art detective explains in 'Il Mistero Velato' (The Veiled Mystery), to be released in English on Wednesday.
Measurements differed among Italy's city states in that period, and the statue's base, at 58.3 centimetres (23 inches), matches the Florentine unit from Tuscany where Michelangelo grew up and learnt his trade.
"Bregno never made anything as exquisite as the Madonna della Febbre. He once made a Jesus out of marble but it is horrendous... like a Viking with a halo," Doliner said.
"No one who has seen the statue in person could think it was made by anyone else," he said.
Recommend
Send
IM Story
Print
Related Articles
US-ENTERTAINMENT Summary Reuters - 2 hours 20 minutes ago
Elizabeth Taylor feeling stronger, still in hospital Reuters - 2 hours 21 minutes ago
Piers Morgan, Larry King spar over CNN veteran's jibe AFP - Thursday, February 24
Canada's Arcade Fire collect more British honours AFP - Thursday, February 24
"King's Speech," "Social Network" lead Oscar picks Reuters - Thursday, February 24
News Search
Top Stories
BASF says 2020 profit tripled to 4.56 billion
In US state houses, Tea Party bills spark outrage
World's coral reefs could be gone by 2050: study
'Locked-in' patients happier than thought: study
Oil prices hit multi-year highs amid Libya unrest
More Top Stories »
ADVERTISEMENT
Most Popular
Most Viewed
Oral sex linked to cancer risk
Moody's lowers Japan rating outlook to 'negative'
World markets tumble, oil spikes on Libya unrest
Libya shockwaves hit Italian businesses
Machu Picchu victim of own success: UN
More Most Viewed »
More Most Recommended »
Elsewhere on Yahoo!
Financial news on Yahoo! Finance
Stars and latest movies
Best travel destinations
More on Yahoo! News
Home
Singapore
Asia Pacific
World
Business
Entertainment
Sports
Technology
Weekend Edition
Subscribe to our news feeds
Top StoriesMy Yahoo!RSS
» More news feeds | What are news feeds?
Also on Yahoo!
Answers
Groups
Mail
Messenger
Mobile
Travel
Finance
Movies
Sports
Games
» All Yahoo! Services
Site Highlights
Singapore
Full Coverage
Most Popular
Entertainment
Photos
Yahoo! News Network
Copyright © 2011 Yahoo! Southeast Asia Pte. Ltd. (Co. Reg. No. 199700735D). All Rights Reserved.
Terms of Service |
Privacy Policy |
Community |
Intellectual Property Rights Policy |
Help
Other News on Thursday, 24 February 2011 U.S. sanctions Iran officials for protest crackdown
Commerzbank to start repaying state aid
Citigroup, BofA, 4 others cut HP price target
US existing-home sales rise above year-ago pace
Saudi king back home, orders $37 bln in handouts
World's coral reefs could be gone by 2050: study
DirecTV profit beats Street; shares rise
Israel to Europe: Iran ships augur nuclear spread
Kadhafi loses swathes of east to insurrection
Cables show Libya pressed oil firms to reimburse terror costs
|
Libya live report
Two CIA contractors spirited out of Pakistan
|
Israel to let 300 Palestinians in Libya into West Bank
|
Libyan leader should not use violence, Malaysian PM says
Fresh gun battles erupt in Ivory Coast's main city
|
Philippine remains 'sold as Japan war dead'
Troubled Pakistan win World Cup opener
Long-range rocket from Gaza hits Israeli city: police
|
Pakistan arrest shines spotlight on U.S. contractors
Pressure on Japan PM grows as MP leaves govt post
Umar Akmal helps Pakistan post 317-7 against Kenya
Oscar is golden, but film business shows some tarnish
Judge tells Lindsay Lohan guilty plea means jail
Apple shareholders nix succession but OK board rule
|
US-ENTERTAINMENT Summary
Signs of life in quake damaged building-NZ rescue official
South Korea suspends Deutsche Bank brokerage unit
Apple to host March 2 event, iPad 2 in the wings
|
S.Korea suspends Deutsche Bank brokerage unit
S. Korea suspends some Deutsche Bank operations
Deutsche Bank says regrets S.Korean sanctions
Pakistani stocks fall further, close at 2-½ month low
Mass rally against inflation in Delhi
Deutsche Bank's Seoul unit suspended: report
Asia Naphtha-Taiwan Formosa, S Korea Honam buy up to 300,000T
US-TECH Summary
DirecTV profit beats Street; shares rise
Judge tells Lindsay Lohan guilty plea means jail
|
Paltrow to join Coldplay husband in UK charts
|
Oscar is golden, but film business shows some tarnish
|
Justin Bieber leads U.S. pop album chart
|
Threat to girls' education in Afghanistan: report
BASF says 2020 profit tripled to 4.56 billion
Clinton condemns Iran crackdown
Google-backed startup zaps electricity waste
Iran overcoming nuclear program problems: Barak
U.S. sanctions Iranian officials for protest crackdown
Apple to host event, iPad 2 in the wings
World grapples for response as battles divide Libya
|
'Locked-in' patients happier than thought: study
Afghanistan seeks US help post-2014
UK verdict on WikiLeaks's Assange extradition due
New Zealand puts quake toll at 98, many more missing
|
Oil prices hit multi-year highs amid Libya unrest
Rocket from Gaza Strip strikes Israeli city
Apple succession call nixed, board rule OK'd
Lohan faces jail over gem theft, US judge warns
Spotify nears Universal label deal, no Warner yet
Chinese official dismisses Jasmine protest calls
|
Long-range rocket from Gaza hits Israeli city
US oil hits $100 a barrel amid Libya unrest
UK verdict on WikiLeaks's Assange extradition due
|
Apple invite hints at March 2 debut of new iPad
Taiwan mulls total freeze on imports of Philippine workers
Yemen's Saleh orders protection for protesters
|
3D helps drive global box office to $31.8 billion
NATO's successful Afghan night raids come with high
|
Washington Post profit hurt by newspaper weakness
Distressed residents flee New Zealand quake city
Mexico captures suspects in U.S. agent's killing
|
Museum launches online timeline of 9/11 attacks
Chinese official dismisses "Jasmine" protest calls
U.N. council to look into tougher North Korea sanctions
|
Samsung launches ultra-slim notebook, targets Apple
Mexico captures suspect in US agent's killing
Fresh gun battles erupt in Ivory Coast's main city
|
Obama breaks silence, condemns Libya crackdown
Palin to make rare foreign trip to India
Rocket from Gaza Strip strikes Israeli city
|
Kadhafi ordered Lockerbie bombing: ex-minister tells paper
Countries rush to evacuate citizens from Libya
Severe food shortages in N.Korea: aid groups
All to play for in S.Africa-W.Indies World Cup clash
Canada's Arcade Fire collect more British honours
U.N. council to look into tougher North Korea sanctions
Hawaii legalizes same-sex unions
Hope evaporates for survivors of N. Zealand quake
"King's Speech," "Social Network" lead Oscar picks
New Zealand puts quake toll at 98, many more missing
Gucci and John Richmond: The modern dandy meets party girl
US art sleuth claims new Michelangelo find
Apple succession call nixed
|
Justin Bieber leads U.S. pop album chart
Oil up, stocks mixed on Middle East concerns
Paltrow to join Coldplay husband in UK charts
Samsung launches ultra-slim notebook, targets Apple
|
S. Korea prosecutors probe German bank
Swiss franc at all-time dollar high on Libya fears
UK verdict on WikiLeaks's Assange extradition due
|
Judge tells Lindsay Lohan guilty plea means jail
Seoul shares slip 0.6 pct on techs, refiners
Taiwan OKs Chinese investment in chips, LCD-sources
|
Indonesia cleric says arms training is God's will
YouTube banks on Bollywood, cricket for India
|
Taiwan Formosa sells fuel oil cutter at 2-yr high premium
Yemen LNG says sees full gas production in six months
Museum launches online timeline of 9/11 attacks
|
NZ quake toll 98, grave concerns for 226
Google Ventures invests in power-saving technology
|
Pakistan
3D helps drive global box office to $31.8 billion
|
BRIEF-Moody's says Korean ABS performance remains stable
Taiwan sell T$25 bln T-bills at 0.71 pct yield
King's Speech, Social Network lead Oscar picks
|
Judge tells Lindsay Lohan guilty plea means jail
|
Elizabeth Taylor feeling stronger, still in hospital
|
Chris Brown allowed near Rihanna, 2 years after attack
|
Afghan suicide blast kills agent, wounds 26
Kadhafi digs in triggering expatriate exodus
Elpida says may raise DRAM prices in March
UK court agrees Assange extradition to Sweden
|
Afghan suicide blast kills one, wounds 26
YouTube banks on Bollywood, cricket for India
Israeli jets hit Gaza after rocket attack
Iran warships dock in Syria, Israeli fears dismissed
Taiwan OKs Chinese investment in chips, LCD-sources
Egypt's Suleiman survived assassination bid
U.S. says Cuba sets trial date for jailed contractor
|
Nokia engineers hope for best as job cuts loom
Iran warships 'to dock in Syria': Iran commander
Google Ventures invests in power-saving technology
Syria may have built atom site near Damascus
Samsung launches ultra-slim notebook, targets Apple
Iraqi shoe-thrower arrested for supporting protesters
|
Vietnam axes Vinashin steel project with Malaysia
Apple stockholders keep CEO succession plan secret
Special Report: As China grows, contest intensifies for labor
|
Taiwan protesters throw flowers at China envoy
French foreign policy fiasco may end in government reshuffle
|
Thai PM refutes 'dual nationality' allegations
Samsung makes breakthrough in color display technology
Cambodia criticised over attempts to regulate NGOs
CIA, Pakistani cooperation scaled back after shooting
US students trade unruly Cairo for uneasy Jerusalem
U2 to play Glastonbury festival
Men's cosmetics take off in China
Party animals set tone at Milan fashion week
Apple takes wraps off new MacBook Pro lineup
|
Elizabeth Taylor feeling stronger, still in hospital
Shanghai passes one-dog law
Dish Network loses subscribers in fourth quarter
|
Piers Morgan, Larry King spar over CNN veteran's jibe
UK court agrees Assange extradition to Sweden
|
Elpida says may raise DRAM prices in March
|
U2 to play Glastonbury festival
|
German cross-eyed opossum to land in Oscar gift bags
|
From Beatles to ballet, McCartney writes for dance
|
Royal couple in spotlight at first official visit
|
Greece at new risk of being pushed off euro
Bodies of missing Tenn. mom, Jo Ann Bain, and daughter found
Female Breasts Are Bigger Than Ever
AMD Trinity Accelerated Processing Units Now in Volume Production
The Avengers (2012 film), made the second biggest opening- and single-day gross of all-time
AMD to Start Production of piledriver
Ivy Bridge Quad-Core, Four-Thread Desktop CPUs
Islamists Protest Lady Gaga's Concert in Indonesia
Japan Successfully Broadcasts an 8K Signal Over the Air
ECB boosts loans to 1 trillion Euro to stop credit crunch
Egypt : Mohammed Morsi won with 52 percent
What do you call 100,000 Frenchmen with their hands up
AMD Launches AMD Embedded R-Series APU Platform
Fed Should not Ignore Emerging Market Crisis
Fed casts shadow over India, emerging markets
Why are Chinese tourists so rude? A few insights