Ever since 1898 when the Shroud of Turin – the cloth in which it is believed that the body of Christ was wrapped after the crucifixion - was first photographed, its authenticity has been heatedly debated. In one of our recent programs we already discussed the test results published by the Italian National agency for new technologies, energy and sustainable economic development (ENEA), based on which the Shroud of Turin cannot be considered to be a medieval fake. Nevertheless, it is still too early to claim that the mystery of the Shoud's origin has been solved. Luciano Buso – an artist and art-restorer from an Italian town of Treviso – is confident that it was a replica of the original Shroud made by a great Italian medieval artist Giotto di Bondone. Mr. Buso talked to Marina Tantushyan, the Voice of Russia's correspondent in Rome, about his theory based on the special hidden writings technique.
Mr. Buso, how did you manage to establish that the famous Shroud of Turin was created by Giotto given the fact that you did not have direct access to it?
During this study I only used the same methods that I have already used during my examination of other pieces of art created by Giorgione, Giotto himself and Leonardo Da Vinci. All of these artists used a special technique of hidden writing. And in the case of the Shroud it was sufficient for me to operate with its photograph only.
In your opinion, why of all the great medieval masters it was Giotto who was honored with the job of replicating the burial cloth of Christ?
As I have written numerous times, in my mind Giotto was chosen as a famous artist of his time whose name was well known primarily due to his popularity and his craftsmanship.
What is your view of the ENEA tests results that in a way contradict your conclusions? Are you ready to insist on your point of view? If yes, what counter arguments are you going to use to prove your point?
The fact that all theories related to the Shroud of Turin are to be proved invalid to some extent became obvious to me back in 1980s when a group of world renowned scientists who performed carbon dating test on a small piece of the cloth put the Shroud's origin around 1280-1320. It so happened that even that theory designed by well known scientists who used technology and methods modern for that time collapsed. In my opinion, various theories will always try to deny the existence of the Shroud of Turin. As far as the results of the latest testing that contradict my observations, I can say only this: those who want to doubt my theory will also have to appeal the results of all my work to study hundreds of pictures painted between years 1300 and 2010. In all those I found hidden writing. There is a book about to come out in which I give a precise and detailed account of all examples of hidden writing I have encountered. What I don't understand is this: what's the point of denying my theory that proves that Giotto created the Shroud of Turin in 1315 if the existence of these hidden writings is obvious.
Why does the Shroud of Turin so often come into focus of attention? In your opinion, what new theories came come to light in the near future?
In all times the objects of art created in such a mysterious way that didn't fit within traditional well defined boundaries have attracted special interest of people. The Shoud of Turin is at the same time a religious object as well as a symbolic piece of art, not limited to its own boundaries. Perhaps that is the reason for greater attention of people and scientists specifically drawn to the Shroud. I have already debunked all newly published theories in my book that came out in June 2011. At the same time I frequently watch scientists who in various TV shows desperately try to prove something that cannot exist. Among them there are those who claim that great Leonardo Da Vinci was the author of the Shroud of Turin. It has nothing to do with reality. Furthermore, a recent scientific study failed to prove how the imprint of the body got transferred to the Shroud. As far as I go, I have no doubt that Giotto created the Shroud in 1315.
Despite the fact that Mr. Buso and other scientists are convinced of their own arguments, the number of new theories coming up will not decrease. Perhaps Pope John Paul II was right in saying that the Shroud will always be a «challenge to our intelligence».
Please rate: