(April 26) - A debate rages in Italy over a wooden crucifix recently purchased by the government and hailed by some as a work by Michelangelo. The problem is not everyone believes the expensive work of art was created by the Renaissance genius.
Last year, the country's Culture Ministry spent $4.2 million on the 16-inch sculpture of a slender Jesus Christ minus the cross -- a move some found questionable considering the ministry's budget is facing deep cuts in its projected budget over the next three years, according to The New York Times.
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"The attribution wrongs Michelangelo, as well as the history of 15th-century Florence," said Francesco Caglioti, a Renaissance sculpture specialist who believes that there were a number of skilled artisans capable of creating such a relic during that period.
Caglioti claims that the one purchased by the Italian government from Turin antiques dealer Giancarlo Gallino is probably only worth about $129,700.
Still, those who believe the sculpture was produced by Michelangelo say the crucifix's masterly depiction of human anatomy, as well as its similarities to other works by the artist, confirms its authenticity.
Go to The New York Times to read more about the contentious debate surrounding the crucifix.
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