Hey Mike! You owe me 300 ducats!
Michelangelo Buonarroti is known for having sculpted some of the most exquisite and famous masterpieces of all time, but did you know that he created forgeries? There is a documented case of one such instance when he knowingly altered a sculpture to make it seem like an antiquity and sell it for more money.
Early in his career, in 1496 to be exact, Michelangelo created a statue of cupid that was going to be sold to Cardinal Riario in Rome, a cousin of Pope Julius II. The dealer suggested that Michelangelo make the cupid in the ancient style and bury it in the ground to make it seem like an antiquity, since that would bring in more money due to an increased interest in antiquity during the Renaissance. Michelangelo agreed and was paid 30 ducats for his work.
Eventually Cardinal Riario discovered the forgery and was furious! He found out who had created the forgery and sent an envoy to Florence to meet with Michelangelo and demand his money. Michelangelo, who was known for having a strong charcter, became enraged when he found out that the dealer had sold his work for 200 ducats and had only paid Michelangelo 30 ducats. Michelangelo immediately took off to Rome to meet with Cardinal Riario about the money he believed he was cheated of.
When Michelangelo arrived in Rome, he impressed Cardinal Riario with his artistic talent. Not only did he pay him the extra money the dealer cheated him out of, but he ended up inviting him to stay for a year and work for him. Nine years later, Michelangelo would be called to Rome by Pope Julius II to and be recognized as one the greatest sculptors.
Unfortunately no image exists since the cupid in question was eventually lost in the Whitehall fire of 1698 after being bought for the collection of Charles I. Whitehall was the residence of the English monarchs from 1530-1698, when it was destroyed by fire.
