Art World in Frenzy
A recently unearthed painting found wedged behind a fuse box in the basement of a terraced house in Fulham has sparked feverish speculation in art circles, with some daring to ask: could this be an unknown work by Michelangelo himself?
The small oil painting, measuring approximately 40cm x 30cm, depicts a muscular figure reclining against what appears to be a cracked column, gazing mournfully at a bowl of overripe pears. The canvas was discovered during renovation works by homeowner Olivia Trent, who had originally planned to convert the basement into a Pilates studio.
Speculation exploded after a local antiques dealer posted an image of the painting on social media with the caption “Lost Michelangelo?” Within hours, self-declared art sleuths descended on Fulham, clutching UV lights and waving around copies of The Lives of the Artists like sacred scrolls.
Dr. Lionel Corbusier of the South Kensington Institute for Unverified Masterpieces believes the composition bears “an undeniable emotional weight, an echo of the Sistine Chapel’s Adam, if Adam had slightly longer hair and a questionable understanding of perspective.” He adds, “There’s a majesty in the brushwork, albeit hidden under thick layers of dust and what we believe might be the remains of a curry sauce.”
Even more tantalising: carbon dating of the wood panel places its origin in the early 16th century. And a faint, nearly illegible signature in the bottom corner reads either “Michel Angelo” or “Michael Andrews” depending on the viewer’s optimism and blood sugar levels.
However, not everyone is convinced.
“This is not Michelangelo. It’s not even Michelangelo’s dog walker’s cousin’s apprentice,” said Gloria Haversham, curator of Early Renaissance Art at the Royal Borough Museum. “It looks like a schoolboy’s art project on a hot Friday afternoon—probably after his mum told him he couldn’t go to the park until he finished something for class.”
She added, “The anatomy is questionable, the shading is confused, and I’m fairly certain that’s a Nando’s receipt stuck in the varnish.”
Despite the scepticism, the painting—now nicknamed The Fulham David—will go on display at a pop-up exhibition in a converted newsagent off North End Road. Tickets are £44.50 or free with proof of recent pasta purchase from the adjoining Italian deli.
Whether it’s the lost work of a Renaissance master or the artistic tantrum of a Year 9 student, one thing is clear: the Fulham painting has already earned a place in the pantheon of delightful art world mysteries…