Michelangelo Bust Found After Centuries
A marble bust in an Italian basilica has been officially re-attributed to Michelangelo after spending centuries in obscurity. New research confirmed the Renaissance master's work, and the discovery is expected to draw massive crowds to the basilica. Art lovers now have a rare chance to view a "lost" Michelangelo work in its original religious context.
The re-attributed sculpture, titled "Christ the Saviour," is housed in the Basilica of Sant'Agnese fuori le mura in Rome. For nearly 200 years, its creator was unknown, with the work simply being listed as an anonymous piece from the 16th-century Roman school. The groundbreaking attribution is the result of a decade of archival research by independent scholar Valentina Salerno. Her work relied on tracking documents like wills, inventories, and correspondence from Michelangelo's final years, rather than solely on stylistic analysis. Interestingly, the bust was originally attributed to Michelangelo until the early 19th century before it fell into obscurity. The 19th-century French writer Stendhal even remarked on a visit to the church, "we noticed a head of the savior which I should swear is by Michelangelo." Salerno's findings challenge the long-held belief that Michelangelo destroyed many of his sketches and works late in his life. The documents suggest he instead created a system to entrust his art to a close circle of associates for preservation. Following the announcement, the gleaming white marble sculpture has been placed on an altar in a side chapel of the basilica. A laminated sign reading "Alarm armed" and other security systems are now in place to protect the rediscovered masterpiece.
