A rare sketch by Michelangelo has set a new auction record, with a five-inch drawing of a foot selling for $27.2 million. The sale underscores the enduring demand for works by Old Masters and the premium placed on authenticated drawings by the Renaissance great.


Michelangelo Sketch Sets New Auction Record as Tiny Drawing Sells for $27.2 Million | Gravitas

What is fame? Maybe it is when a seemingly unremarkable sketch you scribbled on&nbsp;the smallest piece of paper is sold for thousands of dollars.

This is exactly what happened in the US, where a small yellowed piece of paper on which the famed Renaissance genius Michelangelo had scribbled a square sold for a whopping $201,600. This, as per a statement released by auction house Christie's on Wednesday (Apr 17), was 33 times its estimated value.

<h2>Its discovery</h2>

As per AFP, the scribble was found stuck to the back of the frame of another Michelangelo painting. The second painting had been in a private collection for decades, the auction house said in a media statement.&nbsp;

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It was accompanied by a letter from Michelangelo's last direct descendant and was initially expected to fetch somewhere between $6,000 and $8,000.

However, Christie's in New York said that the piece, when it went under the hammer, ended up selling for "33.6 times its low estimate." The auction house did not disclose any details of the buyer.

<h2>What is the sketch?</h2>

The small work, AFP reports, depicts a block of marble. Written on the paper is the word "simile," which in English translates to "similar".

This is believed to have been drawn while the Renaissance genius Michelangelo was working on his famed work&nbsp;the Sistine Chapel ceiling, a Christie's specialist told AFP some time back.

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It is accompanied by a letter written by the artist's descendant, Cosimo Buonarroti. Written in 1836, in the letter, he offers the piece by his "illustrious forefather Michelangelo" to Sir John Bowring, who at the time was the future governor of Hong Kong, whose signature appears at the bottom of the sheet.

While the sketch is unsigned and has no proof, it is indeed drawn by Michaelangelo, as Christie's said that its research team has confirmed that the Italian artist was behind the small drawing.

(With inputs from agencies)

What is fame? Maybe it is when a seemingly unremarkable sketch you scribbled on the smallest piece of paper is sold for thousands of dollars. This is exactly what happened in the US, where a small yellowed piece of paper on which the famed Renaissance genius Michelangelo had scribbled a square sold for a whopping $201,600.

What is fame? Maybe it is when a seemingly unremarkable sketch you scribbled on the smallest piece of paper is sold for thousands of dollars. This is exactly what happened in the US, where a small yellowed piece of paper on which the famed Renaissance genius Michelangelo had scribbled a square sold for a whopping $201,600. This, as per a statement released by auction house Christie's on Wednesday (Apr 17), was 33 times its estimated value. Its discovery As per AFP, the scribble was found stuck to the back of the frame of another Michelangelo painting. The second painting had been in a private collection for decades, the auction house said in a media statement. Also read | Brazil woman wheels in corpse of an elderly man into bank to 'sign' for a loan It was accompanied by a letter from Michelangelo's last direct descendant and was initially expected to fetch somewhere between $6,000 and $8,000. However, Christie's in New York said that the piece, when it went under the hammer, ended up selling for "33.6 times its low estimate." The auction house did not disclose any details of the buyer. What is the sketch? The small work, AFP reports, depicts a block of marble. Written on the paper is the word "simile," which in English translates to "similar". This is believed to have been drawn while the Renaissance genius Michelangelo was working on his famed work the Sistine Chapel ceiling, a Christie's specialist told AFP some time back. Also read | Ancient humans lived in THIS vast lava tube in Saudi Arabia 7,000 years ago It is accompanied by a letter written by the artist's descendant, Cosimo Buonarroti. Written in 1836, in the letter, he offers the piece by his "illustrious forefather Michelangelo" to Sir John Bowring, who at the time was the future governor of Hong Kong, whose signature appears at the bottom of the sheet. While the sketch is unsigned and has no proof, it is indeed drawn by Michaelangelo, as Christie's said that its research team has confirmed that the Italian artist was behind the small drawing. (With inputs from agencies)

Tiny scribble, whopping price: Michelangelo's simple doodle sold for THIS much

The famous Medici Chapel of Florence will finally be allowing four visitors at a time to enter the long-hidden secret room in the Chapel which is said to have charcoal drawings on its walls, some of which have been attributed to Michelangelo. 
 
The secret room, which is 10-by-3 metres (33-by-10 feet) in size, was first found in 1975 when officials started searching for the Medici Chapel's new exit to accommodate increasing visitors. 
 
The then-director of the museum Paolo Dal Poggetto “firmly believed that they were by Michelangelo,’’ stated Paola D’Agostino, the current director. The paintings of Michelangelo have been under fierce debate which continues to this day. 
 
“The major scholars of Michelangelo’s drawings dismissed the attributions” at the time it was discovered 50 years ago, she stated. “Others had a more moderate view, in the sense they thought that some could be by Michelangelo and others could be by followers. So the debate is ongoing,” she added.

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Till 1955, the room was used for storing coal after which it was sealed and forgotten for years underneath a trapdoor, which remained hidden by furniture. The drawings on the walls were also discovered under two layers of plaster. 
 
As per the theory proposed by Dal Poggetto, Michelangelo had hidden in the tiny space from “the wrath of Pope Clement VII” after he had supported a short-lived republic which overthrew the Medicis. In the room, the artists had sketched studies for a few of his projects.

<h2>Secret room remained 'hidden' for 50 years</h2>

The artwork on the wall includes sketches which are said to be the legs of Giuliano de’ Medici, which is near the entrance of the secret room. For the last 50 years, the room's access has remained restricted. 
 
It was decided by the officials that the room would be opened to the public on a limited basis, and the works would be placed in extended periods of darkness after long exposure to LED lights for protection.

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The secret room will be opened from November 15 and 100 visitors will get access every week through reservation, four at a time. The visitors will get to spend a maximum of 15 minutes inside the room. 
 
“This place grants today’s visitors the unique experience of being able to come into direct contact not only with the creative process of the maestro, but also with the perception of the formation of his myth as a divine artist,” stated Francesca de Luca, curator of the Museum of the Medici Chapels, in a statement. 
 
Meanwhile, Agostino said that restoration has been “time-consuming, constant and painstaking work.”

(With inputs from agencies)

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The famous Medici Chapel of Florence will finally be allowing four visitors at a time to enter the long-hidden secret room in the Chapel which is said to have charcoal drawings on its walls, some of which have been attributed to Michelangelo.

The famous Medici Chapel of Florence will finally be allowing four visitors at a time to enter the long-hidden secret room in the Chapel which is said to have charcoal drawings on its walls, some of which have been attributed to Michelangelo. The secret room, which is 10-by-3 metres (33-by-10 feet) in size, was first found in 1975 when officials started searching for the Medici Chapel's new exit to accommodate increasing visitors. The then-director of the museum Paolo Dal Poggetto “firmly believed that they were by Michelangelo,’’ stated Paola D’Agostino, the current director. The paintings of Michelangelo have been under fierce debate which continues to this day. “The major scholars of Michelangelo’s drawings dismissed the attributions” at the time it was discovered 50 years ago, she stated. “Others had a more moderate view, in the sense they thought that some could be by Michelangelo and others could be by followers. So the debate is ongoing,” she added. ALSO READ | Mona Lisa reflects Leonardo da Vinci's genius in more ways than one. Here's how Till 1955, the room was used for storing coal after which it was sealed and forgotten for years underneath a trapdoor, which remained hidden by furniture. The drawings on the walls were also discovered under two layers of plaster. As per the theory proposed by Dal Poggetto, Michelangelo had hidden in the tiny space from “the wrath of Pope Clement VII” after he had supported a short-lived republic which overthrew the Medicis. In the room, the artists had sketched studies for a few of his projects. Secret room remained 'hidden' for 50 years The artwork on the wall includes sketches which are said to be the legs of Giuliano de’ Medici, which is near the entrance of the secret room. For the last 50 years, the room's access has remained restricted. It was decided by the officials that the room would be opened to the public on a limited basis, and the works would be placed in extended periods of darkness after long exposure to LED lights for protection. WATCH | Canadian artist Sougwen Chung paints with robots The secret room will be opened from November 15 and 100 visitors will get access every week through reservation, four at a time. The visitors will get to spend a maximum of 15 minutes inside the room. “This place grants today’s visitors the unique experience of being able to come into direct contact not only with the creative process of the maestro, but also with the perception of the formation of his myth as a divine artist,” stated Francesca de Luca, curator of the Museum of the Medici Chapels, in a statement. Meanwhile, Agostino said that restoration has been “time-consuming, constant and painstaking work.” (With inputs from agencies) You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Florence chapel to allow visitors inside 'secret room' filled with Michelangelo's works

A school principal in Florida has been forced to resign after a parent complained that students of class 6 were exposed to pornography during a lesson on Renaissance art which included Michelangelo’s “David” sculpture. Citing a report from the Tallahassee Democrat, the news agency Associated Press reported on Friday (March 24) that principal Hope Carrasquilla of the Tallahassee Classical School resigned this week after an ultimatum from the school board’s chairman.

Speaking to the Tallahassee Democrat, Carrasquilla said she was saddened that her time at the school had to end this way.&nbsp;

The principal added that one parent complained the material was pornographic and two other parents said they wanted to be notified of the lesson before it was given to their children.&nbsp;

The instruction also included Michelangelo’s “Creation of Adam” painting and Botticelli’s “Birth of Venus.”

The kerfuffle in Florida also prompted users on social media to point out similarities to an episode of popular sitcom "The Simpsons" where characters debate the censorship of the David statue.&nbsp;

The statue's nudity has been a part of a centuries-old debate about art pushing boundaries and the rules of censorship. In the 1500s, metal fig leaves covered the genitals of statues like David when the Roman Catholic Church deemed nudity as immodest and obscene.

In 2016, a controversy erupted when officials erected wooden panels to shield nude statues at Rome’s Capitoline Museums during a visit by then-Iranian president Hassan Rouhani. Italy's then culture minister &nbsp;Dario Franceschini criticised the decision to cover up the statues by saying that neither he nor then prime minister Matteo Renzi were informed about it.&nbsp;

Rouhani, meanwhile, thanked Italians as being "very hospitable people” when asked about the gesture. 
 
(With inputs from agencies) 
&nbsp;

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A school principal in Florida has been forced to resign after a parent complained that students of class 6 were exposed to pornography during a lesson on Renaissance art which included Michelangelo’s “David” sculpture.

A school principal in Florida has been forced to resign after a parent complained that students of class 6 were exposed to pornography during a lesson on Renaissance art which included Michelangelo’s “David” sculpture. Citing a report from the Tallahassee Democrat, the news agency Associated Press reported on Friday (March 24) that principal Hope Carrasquilla of the Tallahassee Classical School resigned this week after an ultimatum from the school board’s chairman. Speaking to the Tallahassee Democrat, Carrasquilla said she was saddened that her time at the school had to end this way. The principal added that one parent complained the material was pornographic and two other parents said they wanted to be notified of the lesson before it was given to their children. The instruction also included Michelangelo’s “Creation of Adam” painting and Botticelli’s “Birth of Venus.” The kerfuffle in Florida also prompted users on social media to point out similarities to an episode of popular sitcom "The Simpsons" where characters debate the censorship of the David statue. The statue's nudity has been a part of a centuries-old debate about art pushing boundaries and the rules of censorship. In the 1500s, metal fig leaves covered the genitals of statues like David when the Roman Catholic Church deemed nudity as immodest and obscene. In 2016, a controversy erupted when officials erected wooden panels to shield nude statues at Rome’s Capitoline Museums during a visit by then-Iranian president Hassan Rouhani. Italy's then culture minister Dario Franceschini criticised the decision to cover up the statues by saying that neither he nor then prime minister Matteo Renzi were informed about it. Rouhani, meanwhile, thanked Italians as being "very hospitable people” when asked about the gesture. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

US: Florida principal resigns after students shown Michelangelo's ‘David’ statue in class

Modern problems require modern solution is a catchphrase used in many memes but ingenuity of scientists and artists sometimes makes us believe the urban adage.

When one says the word 'bacteria' it generally elicits a negative sentiment. Armies of bacteria are ever ready to make us sick. But not all bacteria are bad. We are not talking about good bacteria that reside in our gut helping us digest food and all that but some other bacteria.

A truly bright idea allowed scientists to successfully restore a medieval masterpiece in Florence, Italy. The artist is none other than Michelangelo, the master of renaissance years.

The master created a chapel for the powerful Medici family in medieval Italy. The year was 1520. Passage of time meant that the chapel and the tomb of members of Medici family accumulated dirt and grime that was hard to clean.

Scientists thought of a novel approach to tackle this problem. They tested 11 strains (types) of bacteria for their effect on marble and selected a few from among them.

The strains that were selected were Serratia ficaria SH7, Pseudomonas stutzeri CONC11 and Rhodococcus sp. ZONT

Selecting the bacteria was an important task as it was absolutely necessary to ensure that the bacteria only cleaned the dirt and didn't cause any harm/ degrade the marble of which the invaluable artwork was made.

Bit it was observed that the carefully selected bacteria did the job they were expected to do.

Funnily enough, bacteria names Serratia ficaria causes urinary tract infection. But it was observed that it cleaned the marble within two days. The strains of bacteria were applied to the artwork in the form of a gel.

The chapel was presented to the public on 545th birth anniversary of Michelangelo.

Modern problems require modern solution is a catchphrase used in many memes but ingenuity of scientists and artists sometimes makes us believe the urban adage. When one says the word 'bacteria' it generally elicits a negative sentiment.

Modern problems require modern solution is a catchphrase used in many memes but ingenuity of scientists and artists sometimes makes us believe the urban adage. When one says the word 'bacteria' it generally elicits a negative sentiment. Armies of bacteria are ever ready to make us sick. But not all bacteria are bad. We are not talking about good bacteria that reside in our gut helping us digest food and all that but some other bacteria. A truly bright idea allowed scientists to successfully restore a medieval masterpiece in Florence, Italy. The artist is none other than Michelangelo, the master of renaissance years. The master created a chapel for the powerful Medici family in medieval Italy. The year was 1520. Passage of time meant that the chapel and the tomb of members of Medici family accumulated dirt and grime that was hard to clean. Scientists thought of a novel approach to tackle this problem. They tested 11 strains (types) of bacteria for their effect on marble and selected a few from among them. The strains that were selected were Serratia ficaria SH7, Pseudomonas stutzeri CONC11 and Rhodococcus sp. ZONT Selecting the bacteria was an important task as it was absolutely necessary to ensure that the bacteria only cleaned the dirt and didn't cause any harm/ degrade the marble of which the invaluable artwork was made. Bit it was observed that the carefully selected bacteria did the job they were expected to do. Funnily enough, bacteria names Serratia ficaria causes urinary tract infection. But it was observed that it cleaned the marble within two days. The strains of bacteria were applied to the artwork in the form of a gel. The chapel was presented to the public on 545th birth anniversary of Michelangelo.

Michelangelo's chapel in Florence restored with help from bacteria

The Belvedere Torso inspired Michelangelo but is often ignored by visitors rushing to the Sistine Chapel, an oversight the Vatican Museums hope to resolve with a new video series launched Tuesday.

The Torso, a fragmentary Greek marble statue more than 2,000 years old, is the subject of the first of 12 monthly videos designed to showcase the "secrets, little-known stories and curiosities" hidden among the papal collections.

Believed to be of the Greek hero Ajax in the act of contemplating suicide, the Torso was housed in the Colonna Palace on the Quirinal Hill and later moved to the Vatican's Octagonal Court.

It was studied by generations of artists, including Michelangelo, who would spend hours before it every day and used it as his inspiration.

According to Vatican Museum experts, the tension in Ajax's muscles is replicated in the Ignudi -- the male nudes -- on the Sistine Chapel's ceilings.

They are "athletic and muscular, each one anatomically displaying muscles in tension, as if they are doing something, when in reality they are not doing anything," Guido Cornini, director of decorative arts at the museums, said in the video.

"It is precisely this muscle strain that is reminiscent of the Torso, which Michelangelo had seen, had studied."

The Vatican Museums have been closed for months at a time during the coronavirus pandemic, with the latest reopening pencilled in for May 3.

The Belvedere Torso inspired Michelangelo but is often ignored by visitors rushing to the Sistine Chapel, an oversight the Vatican Museums hope to resolve with a new video series launched Tuesday.

The Belvedere Torso inspired Michelangelo but is often ignored by visitors rushing to the Sistine Chapel, an oversight the Vatican Museums hope to resolve with a new video series launched Tuesday. The Torso, a fragmentary Greek marble statue more than 2,000 years old, is the subject of the first of 12 monthly videos designed to showcase the "secrets, little-known stories and curiosities" hidden among the papal collections. Believed to be of the Greek hero Ajax in the act of contemplating suicide, the Torso was housed in the Colonna Palace on the Quirinal Hill and later moved to the Vatican's Octagonal Court. It was studied by generations of artists, including Michelangelo, who would spend hours before it every day and used it as his inspiration. According to Vatican Museum experts, the tension in Ajax's muscles is replicated in the Ignudi -- the male nudes -- on the Sistine Chapel's ceilings. They are "athletic and muscular, each one anatomically displaying muscles in tension, as if they are doing something, when in reality they are not doing anything," Guido Cornini, director of decorative arts at the museums, said in the video. "It is precisely this muscle strain that is reminiscent of the Torso, which Michelangelo had seen, had studied." The Vatican Museums have been closed for months at a time during the coronavirus pandemic, with the latest reopening pencilled in for May 3.

Michelangelo's inspiration among Vatican 'secrets' revealed

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