Calling restored antiquities “fakes” is a seriously tortured definition. Especially since in many cases it’s impossible to delineate where restoration ends and preservation begins.
They’ve cleaned the effects of urban pollution off Michelangelo’s Sistine ceiling a number of times. Does that make it “fake,” too?
No, it’s not.
The only complaints about the cleaning of the Sistine frescoes came from academics who’d taught for generations that the soot and other crud that had accumulated was original, and intended by Michelangelo. One look at his Doni Tondo would show that the cleaned version shows his intent.
Garbage article.
You are right, given the dedication of many to accurate reconstruction and restoration. Calling them “fake” is a slur against those curators of the past who dedicate their lives to this sort of thing. We all know about the use of Roman spolia all around Italy, this is no secret. We know much of the 20th century restoration was ordered and financed by Mussolini. So maybe we should tear it back down and leave it in piles of blocks laying around the city? This is just stupid.