02/10/2001

According to BBC news, the British government has placed an export ban on Michelangelo’s drawing The Risen Christ from going to the United States. The drawing was sold at Christie’s, London in July 2000 for a world record price of $ 11.8 million (€ 13.1 million), the highest sum ever paid for an Old Master drawing. The unknown American owner reportedly wants to bring the drawing to the US, forcing the British government to bar its export and allowing time for a buyer to put in a offer. British arts minister, Tessa Blackstone said: "By placing a temporary bar on its export I hope to provide a chance for matching funds to be raised in this country, thereby enabling the drawing to stay in Britain". The sketch is a study for one of Michelangelo's marble figures of the Risen Christ in the Italian church of Santa Maria sopra Minerva, Rome. In March 2001, the National Galleries of Scotland failed to raise sufficient funds to prevent Michelangelo’s Mourning Woman from being sold for export (it in fact sold to London Old Master dealers, Colnaghi as “stock” for $ 8.3 million, € 9.1 million). The 11th of November has been pencilled in as the deadline in which interested parties must give an indication to buy, but could be extended to March 2002. (Andrew Moore)