Michelangelo

Researcher claims Roman basilica bust is a lost Michelangelo

A marble bust of Christ that has stood for centuries in one of Rome's oldest basilicas was claimed on Wednesday to be the work of Michelangelo, igniting a fierce debate among Renaissance scholars over the latest purported attribution to one…

Vatican cleans salt buildup off Michelangelo’s ‘Last Judgment’

Restorers at the Vatican are removing a chalky white film of salt from Michelangelo's "The Last Judgment" in the Sistine Chapel, the first major cleaning of the fresco since a comprehensive restoration concluded in the 1990s. The Vatican gave journalists…

Michelangelo sketch sells for $27.2M, shattering auction record

A small red chalk sketch of a foot by Michelangelo sold for $27.2 million at Christie's in New York on February 5, 2026, shattering the auction record for any work by the Renaissance master and selling for more than 13…

Michelangelo’s ‘Last Judgment’ undergoes first cleaning in 30 years

Scaffolding now surrounds one of the most celebrated works in Western art history. The Vatican announced Monday that Michelangelo's "The Last Judgment," the imposing fresco depicting heaven and hell on the altar wall of the Sistine Chapel, is undergoing its…

Vatican to restore Michelangelo’s Last Judgment in 2026

The Vatican Museums have announced an extraordinary restoration of Michelangelo's Last Judgment fresco in the Sistine Chapel beginning in early 2026, representing the most extensive conservation effort on the Renaissance masterpiece in decades. The project is urgently needed to protect…