Though he is widely regarded as one of the great artists of history and was much admired and imitated, this individual's style and works, known largely through descriptions and the efforts of other artists, remain something of a mystery. On the other hand, just last year, a museum acquired what some have claimed could be the only extant original piece from his hand. Who was the artist, and what is the work?

someothername

Michelangelo's The Holy Family (or the Doni tondo). http://www.wga.hu/frames-e.html?/bio/m/michelan/biograph.html Jul 23 05, 7:13 PM

lanfranco

Sorry, som, but Michelangelo is not much of a mystery -- at least not as far as his documented works of art, as differentiated from his personality, personal life, and iconography, are concerned. The Doni Tondo is well-known and has been in the collection of the Uffizi for many years, and it is certainly NOT the "only extant piece" from its maker's hand. I'm thinking of a far older artist. Jul 24 05, 6:00 PM

TabbyTom

I think this is probably Phidias (or Pheidias, if you’re an out-and-out Grecian). He created the gold and ivory statue of Zeus at Olympia which was one of the seven wonders of the ancient world, and also a celebrated statue of Athena. Last summer an archaeological expedition called TEMP 2004 dug up a bronze head in Bulgaria which some people think may be an original work by Phidias. http://www.bulgariatravel.org/etis/news.php?aID=441 http://www.novinite.com/view_news.php?id=39590 Jul 30 05, 10:18 AM

lanfranco

Well, no, TT -- although this was a very interesting find. I'm thinking about something that an American museum acquired last year. I might add that the question relates directly to #58551 and emphasize that the work in question may or not be the only extant piece by the artist. Other known works have been claimed to be his but are now widely thought to be copies. Jul 30 05, 1:56 PM

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