Jesus Statue Classified as "Unknown Artist" for 200 Years Identified as Master Michelangelo's Work

Conclusion Based on Document Research and Notarized Records

A Jesus sculpture in an ancient Roman cathedral, which had remained classified as "unknown artist" for around 200 years, has been reattributed as a work by Michelangelo, the Renaissance master.

According to ANSA news agency and other sources on March 4 (local time), Valentina Salerno, a member of the Vatican Committee for the 500th anniversary of Michelangelo's birth, announced that the Jesus statue at Sant'Agnese fuori le mura in Rome has been formally recognized once again as a Michelangelo work.

Committee member Salerno explained that this conclusion was reached based on extensive research of historical documents, notarized records, and correspondence related to Michelangelo. She emphasized, "The strength of this study lies in the fact that it is grounded in publicly available archival documents."

Jesus Statue in Roman Cathedral Confirmed as Michelangelo's Work After 200 Years. Photo by EPA, Yonhap News

The sculpture had been regarded as a work by Michelangelo until the early 19th century. However, it was later reclassified as "unknown artist" due to a lack of direct evidence confirming its provenance.

Although the cathedral itself has undergone renovations and expansions over several centuries, the sculpture has been preserved inside the building. Currently, it is placed on a side altar and protected by a security system. According to foreign media, the materials found during this research are expected to serve as a foundation for broader studies aimed at uncovering other hidden Michelangelo works.

Michelangelo, born in 1475, was a leading figure of the Renaissance who excelled in sculpture, painting, and architecture, leaving behind masterpieces such as David and Pieta that had a profound impact on the history of art. Notably, last month, a sketch of a foot drawn by Michelangelo as a study was auctioned for 27.2 million dollars (about 40 billion won). This amount is roughly 20 times the initial minimum estimate and marks the highest price ever paid for a Michelangelo work at auction.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.