Scholars in Britain say 2 bronzes may be early works of Michelangelo

LONDON – Scholars in Britain say new evidence has emerged that two nude male bronzes attributed to other sculptors may be the work of Michelangelo.

Experts from the Fitzwilliam Museum and the University of Cambridge say the evidence suggests the figures riding panthers were made after Michelangelo completed the marble David and as he was about to embark on the Sistine Chapel ceiling.

The museum says in a statement Monday that if the attribution is correct, the sculptures would be the only surviving Michelangelo bronzes in the world.

The sculptures were previously attributed to Michelangelo when they appeared in Adolphe de Rothschild’s collection in the 19th century. But they were unsigned and this attribution was dismissed.

Scholars re-examined them after they were included in the 2012 Royal Academy of Arts bronze exhibition.