A previously unidentified bas-relief carving of the Greek wind god, Aeolus, has now been definitely attributed to the great renaissance master Michelangelo Buonarotti. By tracing back records in the Church of Santa Maria Maddalena in the small town of Capranica Prenestina, 60 kms from Rome, art expert Stefano Panecuccia has been able to confirm that the sculture is indeed the work of Michelangelo. It was executed in the early 1500s and commissioned by Capranica Prenestinas overlord, Girolamo Capranica and his wife Marta.
The piece is at present on show in Romes Palazzo Venezia museum as part of an exhibition of Renaissance sculpture, which also includes a large-scale horses head by Donatello and several important pieces by Mino da Fiesole and Giovanni Dalmata, on loan from the Vatican collection.
La Forma del Rinascimento, Palazzo Venezia, Rome.
From 16 June to 5 September 2010
