‘Her’ meaning the politician, not the artist, which I assumed on 1st read of your synopsis :) Like damn, the artist just straight up converted the fresco into a direct propaganda piece.
Also of note — the fresco was a recent modern piece of work, not a historical protected one.
That I think was my central bias reading this: just being accustomed to considering hagiographical art in a historical context where erasure is usually frowned upon. I forget that in many places we’re still building and renovating cathedrals, and in Italy perhaps moreso.
My expectations about this story, given the headline, were all hilariously wrong.
First, it was not a random parishioner, but the original, now 83-year-old artist.
Next, it was not vandalism. The Vatican demanded the face be scrubbed off the fresco (edit: swype thought I meant the drink).
Next, it was not just an angry local rabble’s mistaken identity. The artist admitted it was her face.
Finally, the politician is still in office, and actually commented on it, joke-flirt reciprocating that she was no angel.
‘Her’ meaning the politician, not the artist, which I assumed on 1st read of your synopsis :) Like damn, the artist just straight up converted the fresco into a direct propaganda piece.
Also of note — the fresco was a recent modern piece of work, not a historical protected one.
That I think was my central bias reading this: just being accustomed to considering hagiographical art in a historical context where erasure is usually frowned upon. I forget that in many places we’re still building and renovating cathedrals, and in Italy perhaps moreso.