Greek Torsoes

The Vatican is to make an unprecedented loan of two ancient Greek torsoes to the British Museum in London. They were unearthed in Rome during the Renaissance. The Belvedere Torso (left) inspired Michelangelo's sketch of Adam, a preliminary drawing for the Sistine Chapel. The sketch will be displayed with the Parthenon sculptures owned by the museum, together with a bronze sculpture found on the Croatian seabed. The exhibition Defining Beauty: The Body in Ancient Greek Art opens at the British Museum in March (CLICK).