David Could Crumble: Engineer

Vibrations from construction of new high-speed train line problematic

(NEWSER) - Progress could spell major trouble for Michelangelo's David: The construction of a high-speed train line beneath Florence could cause the statue to collapse, reports the Telegraph . The statue is criss-crossed with micro-fissures, especially in the left ankle area and carved tree stump he stands upon. Construction on the tunnel, due to be built about 2,000 feet from the statue, could cause damaging vibrations, prompting calls that it be moved. More»

'Antihero' with no personal records is 'perfect Rorschach' for out time

(NEWSER) - Watch out, Michelangelo—it appears that the depraved, scandalous, and murderous Italian painter Caravaggio resonates with modern audiences a tad more than the paragon of Renaissance beauty. That’s the opinion of a historian who surveyed scholarly matter on both painters over the last 50 years—books, papers, catalogs—and concluded that Caravaggio has been gaining. Writer Michael Kimmelman believes it is precisely the painter's outré nature and apparent disdain for those who would chronicle his life that enamors us of him. More»

(NEWSER) - Did Michelangelo actually create a small (16-inch) wooden carving of a crucified Jesus or did the Italian government get taken for a $4 million ride? Some experts believe passionately that the piece, now on exhibit in Naples, is the work of the master. But as the BBC reports, others blast the label as a deliberate ploy by the government to use the religious carving to curry favor with the Catholic church and religious conservatives. More»

Italian lab restores Raphael's landmark painting with cutting edge techniques

(NEWSER) - After a 10-year facelift, an Italian Renaissance landmark is finally ready for its unveiling. Raphael’s Madonna of the Goldfinch underwent extensive renovations that included CAT scans and X-rays, Reuters reports. A Florentine lab removed coverings by early restorers who saved the work, which was smashed in a house collapse more than 460 years ago. "We will celebrate it like the return of our prodigal daughter," said a gallery official. More»

Right-wing extremist kills 2 in Florence

(NEWSER) - A far-right Italian author opened fire on Senegalese traders at two markets in the heart of Florence yesterday, killing two and seriously injuring three. Witnesses said Gianluca Casseri calmly got out of his car and took aim at the African vendors, the BBC reports. The 50-year-old science fiction author turned the gun on himself after being surrounded by police. More»