Controversy over 'Michelangelo' sculpture

Controversy¹ over 'Michelangelo' sculpture 米开朗琪罗雕塑引发争议

The Italian art world is in a messy "is it or isn't it" debate over a wooden sculpture that may or may not have been made by Michelangelo.

Standing² just 40cm (16 inches) high, it depicts（描述） Christ on the Cross, but leading art experts simply cannot agree who made it.

This is not a tale about fakery（伪造） or imitation（模仿） - everyone says the statue is a Renaissance³ piece of art from around 1495, when Michelangelo would have been 20.

But who actually crafted it? That is the question.

The controversy has been rekindled（重新点燃） because of a new exhibition in Naples to display the cross, which incidentally（附随的，偶然，顺便） has itself disappeared somewhere in antiquity（高龄，古老，古迹）, leaving the figure of Christ these days hanging mid-air connected to a sheet of transparent⁴ plastic.

Dubious⁵ provenance⁶

Amid the splendid grandeur（庄严，伟大） of a former cathedral（大教堂）, the cross takes centre stage among a series of paintings, tapestries（挂毯） and other works, including a golden sculpture that is said to contain a splinter(碎片，刺) of the True Cross, upon which Jesus was said to be crucified.（钉在十字架上处死）

The cross has disappeared, leaving the figure of Christ suspended（被暂时搁置的） in mid-air

And for critics, it is the association with religion that is part of the problem.

They say the government has endorsed⁷ the wooden cross as a work by Michelangelo to boost its standing with the Catholic Church, and to burnish⁸ its credentials⁹ with the electorate¹⁰ as a government of conservative beliefs.

In other words, say the doubters, the cross is being used for political, even propaganda(宣传), uses by a government intent on spending tax payers money to pursue dubious quasi-artistic ends.

In fact, the bill was just over $4m (£2.5m).

Those who believe it to be by Michelangelo say it is money well spent saving it for the nation.

Those who do not say the money has, at best, been squandered¹¹ on a piece of dubious provenance.

They add that had it been a genuine Michelangelo it would have sold for 10 times the amount, so rarely do his works come to market.

'Anatomical（结构上的，解剖学的） accuracy'

So, let us examine the positions, if not the evidence, of both sides.

It is of the highest quality, way above that of other artists at the time

Cristina Acidini Luchinat

Florence State Museum

I say "not the evidence" because, frankly¹², there is none - there are no signatures(签名，署名) on the statue nor documentation to support its authorship.（原作者）

"Even major works of art rarely have supportive documents," said Cristina Acidini Luchinat, the superintendent（监督人，管理人） of Florence's state museum and a renowned¹³ expert on Renaissance art.

Mrs Acidini has lent her support and considerable authority to the exhibition.

"These pieces don't come with a written guarantee（书面保证）," she said.

She told me she was impressed by the anatomical accuracy and portrayal¹⁴ of the human body found in the sculpture.

"It is of the highest quality, way above that of other artists at the time," she said.

I pressed Mrs Acidini about this and asked if she believed the work was by Michelangelo.

"You can attribute it to Michelangelo, certainly," she replied.

"Does 'attribute' mean you are sure it's by him?" I asked.

"I am as sure as I can possibly be," she said.

Others go further.

"To survive, a young artist would have had to do small works of this sort," says Giancarlo Gentilini, a Renaissance art expert. "We can't only associate Michelangelo with masterpieces（杰作）."

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Italy rows over statue's origins

'Scandal'

But when it comes to the sceptics,（怀疑论者） there is an equal, if opposing, readiness to step in and deploy¹⁵ withering¹⁶ counter-arguments.

I went to Florence, where Michelangelo was raised and worked, to meet two other world-class specialists on Renaissance art, Tomasso Montanari and Francesco Caglioti.

  When it comes to this statue, it is like comparing a Ford¹⁷ with a Ferrari

Professor Tomasso Montanari

I asked each, in turn, if they thought Michelangelo had carved the statue.

"No" and "no" came back the stereophonic（立体声的） replies.

"When it comes to this statue, it is like comparing a Ford with a Ferrari," Professor Montanari said.

"This is way below the standard of Michelangelo," he added. "It is like it has come off a production line（生产线，流水线） and could have been made by any one of a dozen wood carvers of the time."

Professor Caglioti agreed.

"It's a scandal," he said. "The muscle definition is all wrong.

"Michelangelo rarely worked in wood. He rarely made small pieces like this. His contemporary（同时代的人） biographers make no mention of his having made small works in wood," he added.

Public unaware¹⁸

It is rumoured(谣言，传闻) that at least one museum outside Italy turned down the chance to exhibit the piece as a Michelangelo, so doubtful was it about its authenticity¹⁹. （确实性，真实性）

The posters for exhibitions including the sculpture leave people in no doubt

But here in Italy, whenever and wherever it is exhibited, the public get no hint at the experts' misgivings²⁰.(疑惧)

The posters and publicity²¹ for the current exhibition leave you with no doubt that you are paying to see a work by Michelangelo. His name does not appear in inverted²² commas（引号）, or come with a question mark.

Few of the experts I spoke²³ to on both sides of this dispute could remember a similar, deeply polarised（极化）, row about a piece of art.

"It's a shame," said Professor Montanari, "because all this is making Italy look foolish.

"It is harming our reputation as the world centre of culture and expertise²⁴."

No-one doubts the statue is beautiful, but is it a Michelangelo? （本文由在线英语听力室整理编辑）

1 controversy   

n.争论，辩论，争吵

参考例句：

• That is a fact beyond controversy.那是一个无可争论的事实。
• We ran the risk of becoming the butt of every controversy.我们要冒使自己在所有的纷争中都成为众矢之的的风险。

2 standing   

n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的

参考例句：

• After the earthquake only a few houses were left standing.地震过后只有几幢房屋还立着。
• They're standing out against any change in the law.他们坚决反对对法律做任何修改。

3 renaissance   

n.复活，复兴，文艺复兴

参考例句：

• The Renaissance was an epoch of unparalleled cultural achievement.文艺复兴是一个文化上取得空前成就的时代。
• The theme of the conference is renaissance Europe.大会的主题是文艺复兴时期的欧洲。

4 transparent   

adj.明显的，无疑的；透明的

参考例句：

• The water is so transparent that we can see the fishes swimming.水清澈透明，可以看到鱼儿游来游去。
• The window glass is transparent.窗玻璃是透明的。

5 dubious   

adj.怀疑的，无把握的；有问题的，靠不住的

参考例句：

• What he said yesterday was dubious.他昨天说的话很含糊。
• He uses some dubious shifts to get money.他用一些可疑的手段去赚钱。

6 provenance   

n.出处；起源

参考例句：

• Kato was fully aware of the provenance of these treasures.加藤完全清楚这些珍宝的来源。
• This plant's provenance is Asiadj.这种植物原产于亚洲。

7 endorsed   

vt.& vi.endorse的过去式或过去分词形式v.赞同( endorse的过去式和过去分词 )；在（尤指支票的）背面签字；在（文件的）背面写评论；在广告上说本人使用并赞同某产品

参考例句：

• The committee endorsed an initiative by the chairman to enter discussion about a possible merger. 委员会通过了主席提出的新方案，开始就可能进行的并购进行讨论。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The government has broadly endorsed a research paper proposing new educational targets for 14-year-olds. 政府基本上支持建议对14 岁少年实行新教育目标的研究报告。 来自《简明英汉词典》

8 burnish   

v.磨光；使光滑

参考例句：

• Many people,fearful for their jobs,are trying to burnish their contacts at other firms.许多人因为担心自己的工作，正在努力抹去和其他公司接触的痕迹。
• I burnish joyful sparks from my sorrows.我从伤痛里擦亮喜悦的火花。

9 credentials   

n.证明，资格，证明书，证件

参考例句：

• He has long credentials of diplomatic service.他的外交工作资历很深。
• Both candidates for the job have excellent credentials.此项工作的两个求职者都非常符合资格。

10 electorate   

n.全体选民；选区

参考例句：

• The government was responsible to the electorate.政府对全体选民负责。
• He has the backing of almost a quarter of the electorate.他得到了几乎1/4选民的支持。

11 squandered   

v.（指钱，财产等）浪费，乱花( squander的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• He squandered all his money on gambling. 他把自己所有的钱都糟蹋在赌博上了。
• She felt as indignant as if her own money had been squandered. 她心里十分生气，好像是她自己的钱给浪费掉了似的。 来自飘（部分）

12 frankly   

adv.坦白地，直率地；坦率地说

参考例句：

• To speak frankly, I don't like the idea at all.老实说，我一点也不赞成这个主意。
• Frankly speaking, I'm not opposed to reform.坦率地说，我不反对改革。

13 renowned   

adj.著名的，有名望的，声誉鹊起的

参考例句：

• He is one of the world's renowned writers.他是世界上知名的作家之一。
• She is renowned for her advocacy of human rights.她以提倡人权而闻名。

14 portrayal   

n.饰演；描画

参考例句：

• His novel is a vivid portrayal of life in a mining community.他的小说生动地描绘了矿区的生活。
• The portrayal of the characters in the novel is lifelike.该书中的人物写得有血有肉。

15 deploy   

v.（军）散开成战斗队形，布置，展开

参考例句：

• The infantry began to deploy at dawn.步兵黎明时开始进入战斗位置。
• The president said he had no intention of deploying ground troops.总统称并不打算部署地面部队。

16 withering   

使人畏缩的，使人害羞的，使人难堪的

参考例句：

• She gave him a withering look. 她极其蔑视地看了他一眼。
• The grass is gradually dried-up and withering and pallen leaves. 草渐渐干枯、枯萎并落叶。

17 Ford   

n.浅滩，水浅可涉处；v.涉水，涉过

参考例句：

• They were guarding the bridge,so we forded the river.他们驻守在那座桥上，所以我们只能涉水过河。
• If you decide to ford a stream,be extremely careful.如果已决定要涉过小溪，必须极度小心。

18 unaware   

a.不知道的，未意识到的

参考例句：

• They were unaware that war was near. 他们不知道战争即将爆发。
• I was unaware of the man's presence. 我没有察觉到那人在场。

19 authenticity   

n.真实性

参考例句：

• There has been some debate over the authenticity of his will. 对于他的遗嘱的真实性一直有争论。
• The museum is seeking an expert opinion on the authenticity of the painting. 博物馆在请专家鉴定那幅画的真伪。

20 misgivings   

n.疑虑，担忧，害怕；疑虑，担心，恐惧( misgiving的名词复数 )；疑惧

参考例句：

• I had grave misgivings about making the trip. 对于这次旅行我有过极大的顾虑。
• Don't be overtaken by misgivings and fear. Just go full stream ahead! 不要瞻前顾后， 畏首畏尾。甩开膀子干吧！ 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

21 publicity   

n.众所周知，闻名；宣传，广告

参考例句：

• The singer star's marriage got a lot of publicity.这位歌星的婚事引起了公众的关注。
• He dismissed the event as just a publicity gimmick.他不理会这件事，只当它是一种宣传手法。

22 inverted   

adj.反向的，倒转的v.使倒置，使反转( invert的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• Only direct speech should go inside inverted commas. 只有直接引语应放在引号内。
• Inverted flight is an acrobatic manoeuvre of the plane. 倒飞是飞机的一种特技动作。 来自《简明英汉词典》

23 spoke   

n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说

参考例句：

• They sourced the spoke nuts from our company.他们的轮辐螺帽是从我们公司获得的。
• The spokes of a wheel are the bars that connect the outer ring to the centre.辐条是轮子上连接外圈与中心的条棒。

24 expertise   

n.专门知识(或技能等)，专长

参考例句：

• We were amazed at his expertise on the ski slopes.他斜坡滑雪的技能使我们赞叹不已。
• You really have the technical expertise in a new breakthrough.让你真正在专业技术上有一个全新的突破。