Italian art expert Luciano Buso has suggested that the original cloth [of the Shroud of Turin] deteriorated and Giotto was asked to make a copy. …

‘He wasn’t trying to fake anything, which is clear from the fact that he signed it ”Giotto 15”, to authenticate it as his own work from 1315. This was not a fake he was asked to make a copy of the original one,’ [Buso said]. …

‘For obvious reasons it was not widely publicised that it was a copy as that would have had repercussions for the Church – who I understand have been dismissive of my theory but I am confident that I am correct.’