bought by the Italian authorities statue for $ 4.3 million could be fake
Italian experts have begun an investigation on suspicion that the government has spent 4.3 million dollars on fake statue of the crucifixion of Jesus Christ of Michelangelo, British media reported.
Carved wooden statue was purchased a year ago, the art dealer from Turin, who claimed that the statue was authentic and was bought by a Florentine family. Initially, the man asked her for more than 21 million dollars, but then the parties agreed to a more reasonable price to 4.3 million
However, the Rome prosecutor's office, specializing in fraud in the arts, beginning this week, the investigation led to suspicions that a large sum went to the forgery.
Purchase of 15 th century statue was greeted with fanfare. First it was presented to Pope Benedict XVI, then exhibited in the Italian Parliament, after she went on tour in the country, where it saw thousands of people. Italian Government had even planned to borrow the statue of the National Gallery in Washington as a gesture of respect toward Barack Obama.
However, several prominent art experts said that the statue was created with his hands is not Michelangelo, but another artist. Disputes specialists not subside: they say, the quality of work does not meet the quality of the remaining works of famous masters, as well as works of Florentine artists of the period in general. According to some experts, the statue was made by the Renaissance sculptor Jacopo Sansovino.
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