Art Under Attack Exhibtion to Feature Damaged Christ Statue

BBC NEWS
By Tim Masters

The Statue of the Dead Christ was damaged by 16th century religious reformers

UNITED KINGDOM--- Over the centuries art works have been smashed, slashed, defaced, even bombed. Now the Tate has unveiled plans for the first exhibition to explore physical attacks on art in Britain from the 16th century to the present day. "Art under Attack: Histories of British Iconoclasm" opens at Tate Britain on 2 October. The centrepiece of the show is a damaged sculpture of Christ that lay hidden for hundreds of years beneath a floor of a London chapel. "The Statue of the Dead Christ" (c. 1500-1520) is missing its crown of thorns, arms and lower legs - thought to be the result of a brutal attack by religious reformers in the 16th century. The statue was discovered beneath the chapel floor of the Mercers' Hall in central London in 1954. Experts think it may have been buried to protect it from further damage. [link]