In the arena of Renaissance art, Leonardo was the undisputed heavyweight champ; Michelangelo the brash, talented contender.

In 1503, master manipulator Niccolo Macchiavelli orchestrated an artistic competition between the middle-aged, refined Leonardo and the up-and-coming, roughshod Michelangelo. They were commissioned to paint competing frescoes in the Council of the Hall of 500 inside the Palazzo Vecchio in their native Florence. And, it was witnessed first-hand by a 21-year-old phenom named Raphael.

This titanic battle, one of the most extraordinary episodes of the Renaissance, changed the world of art forever.

There is a sidebar of interest to this true story. The Italians have taken a page from director Jim Cameron's book of hi-tech tricks to help illuminate the ghosts of the past. The City of Florence, with financing from the Kalpa Group of Switzerland, is underwriting art detective Maurizio Seracini's quest to prove that Leonardo's unfinished fresco, "The Battle of Anghiari," still exists in the Hall of the 500 behind a wall and fresco built and painted by 16th Century artist and biographer, Giorgio Vasari.

The search continues.