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The Passion of Michelangelo

Italian authorities announced a verification of the transaction, which a year ago, in December 2008-the first, contracted with a private collector and art dealer Giancarlo Gallino (Giancarlo Gallino). He sold the government a wooden crucifix dating from the end of the XV century, arguing that its author was a 20-year-old Michelangelo Buonarroti. Deciding to investigate, the Italians have recognized the fact that during the year, many experts asserted: the work may not be the author of the Sistine Chapel frescoes irrelevant, and, therefore, the purchase was ill-considered. Asked why the authorities have long turned a blind eye to the fact that it was immediately obvious to others, offered many answers, but the most obvious - officials lured the cheapness of the sculpture.
Investigation into the purchase of a wooden figure, known as Cristo Ritrovato, "Christ has regained", will the so-called Court of Accounts (Corte dei Conti) - a quasi-judicial body of state financial control. His staff will work with that will demand all the necessary documents from the Court of Audit Administrative Region of Lazio, who started checking back in June 2009.

For the first time the crucifix was presented to the public in 2004: during the four months it was exhibited in a museum in Florence Horn. But even then the wooden Christ was represented as the work of Michelangelo. Attribution of the work carried out by specialists from the University of Perugia, Florence and Siena. Experts, in particular, argued that they were convinced an extremely high degree of detail of sculpture, specifically - the accuracy of the transfer of the structural features of the human body. Art critics felt that the author was able to perfect a way to transfer the body structure of the 30-year-old man, from the moment of death, which took no more than 48 hours. It is known that the rector of the church of Santo Spirito Nicolo Bikelli allowed to examine the corpses of the young Michelangelo, and possibly open them.

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In addition, the proponents of the theory of the authorship of Michelangelo drew attention to the similarities between dubialnoy sculptures and other works of masters - such as the crucifix in the same Santo Spirito, "Pieta in St. Peter's, and even" David. "

Did experts explain why a small wooden crucifix (total 41.3 centimeters) can be confidently attributed to "megalomania" of Michelangelo. According Dzhentilini Giancarlo (Giancarlo Gentilini) from the University of Perugia, in his youth the artist and sculptor, was close circle of the famous preacher Girolamo Savonarola, who coined the small crucifix. Such a carved sculpture of Michelangelo could order some of its major backers - Bologna Dominicans, or Lorenzo di Pierfrancesco de 'Medici.

After this crucifix interested in the Italian authorities. Their negotiations with the owner completed the purchase of the sculpture - and buying highly profitable: turinets Giancarlo Gallino, initially requested for the crucifixion of 15 million euros, quickly agreed to part with it for only 3,25 million. Then the incredibly low price of just explained earlier doubts about the authenticity of the work. In particular, the crucifixion was not a solid provenance - a well-documented history of origin. Gallino simply asserted that the sculpture belonged to him a certain Florentine family. Anyway, in December 2008, the deal was made and, apparently, to the mutual satisfaction of the parties. "In fact, we bought at the price of Michelangelo Sansovino" - summed up the art critic Vittorio Sgarbi (Vittorio Sgarbi).

Two days after the purchase of the crucifixion at a ceremony in the Vatican he was handed over to Pope Benedict XVI. Then it was organized very successful tour, during which the sculpture exhibited throughout Italy. Two months crucifix exhibited in Milan Sforza Castle (Castello Sforzesco), which stores the last, unfinished sculpture of Michelangelo - Pieta Rondanini. In the "reunification" of two works on the theme of Christ's death Italians saw a special meaning. "Finally the young and mature Michelangelo could meet and talk with each other", - said Minister of Culture of Italy Sandro Bondi (Sandro Bondi). The end-point travel crucifixion of the country had become a Florentine Bargello Museum.

However, almost immediately sounded and the voices of skeptics who have pointed not only at an unprecedented low cost of Michelangelo and suspicious accommodating Gallino. Most of suspicion, of course, caused a poor documentation of history of sculpture, as well as the fact that biographers, contemporaries of the artist - Giorgio Vasari and Ascanio Kondivi - never fail to mention that the crucifixion.

Spring with a loud statement was made professor at the University of Naples Tomaso Montanari (Tomaso Montanari). According to him, the history of the acquisition of the sculpture is by a political reason, because no one, except for art historians, who confirmed the authorship of Michelangelo for the transaction does not believe in ownership of the sculpture the grand master of the Renaissance. Scientist asks a rhetorical question: why the Italian authorities, when considering the purchase, ask the opinion of only "their" art and asked what he thinks "a third, disinterested party?

Montanari stated that the crucifixion did not appear on the technique of performance on other work of the sculptor, which he attributed. So, he drew attention to the fact that the figure of Christ is made of linden wood pieces glued together. Art historian argues that disclosed at least a dozen of these crucifixes, but this style was in general a traditional Florentine studios late XV century. "Fair" price for a sculpture, says a scientist from Naples, less than 100 thousand euros, and not three million.

In their doubts Montanari was not alone. Director of the Institute of Art History in Florence (Kunsthistorisches Institut in Florenz), Alessandro Nova said that he was struck by the fact of the acquisition of the sculpture. Specialist Michelangelo Baroque Paola (Paola Barocchi) noted that such crucifixion - serial job. Art historian Mina Gregori (Mina Gregori), which advised against the Bank of Florence to buy the image of the crucified Christ, said that the state should try to recover their money. The art of Germany Margrit Lisner (Margrit Lisner) suggested that the true author of the sculpture was already mentioned by Jacopo Sansovino (such attribution automatically shifts the dating for several years ahead, as Sansovino was younger Michelangelo). We propose other candidates for the role of the creator of the crucifixion.

The question of authorship is unlikely to be resolved soon. However, it will take an unpleasant turn already, even if the inspectors determine that the government had sufficient grounds to believe Gallino and buy the sculpture. Critics draw attention to the fact that 3.25 million euros were spent in a crisis period when the budget of the Ministry of Culture had already been severely curtailed. The decision of the Accounts Court of inappropriate purchases could jeopardize art critics who have declared for the transaction - and this, in particular, the director of museums in Florence Achidini Cristina (Cristina Acidini) and director of the Vatican Museums, Antonio Paolucci (Antonio Paolucci).

If the purchase is considered unreasonable for the seller's history can result in criminal charges of fraud. In addition, inevitably the question arises, why the deal yet been approved, despite all the doubts. Skeptic Montanari drew attention to the ideological side of the question. According to him, the Ministry of Culture spent a substantial sum is not just for Michelangelo, namely the crucifixion. It is unlikely that the same money would be spent on the figure of satire, ironic art.

Cyril tadpoles

http://www.lenta.ru/articles/2009/12/21/michelangelo/