Italy up in arms over Michelangelo's David rifle advert
Italy's culture minister has expressed outrage over an advertisement by a US weapons firm showing Michelangelo's David holding a rifle.
Dario Franceschini said the image was offensive and violated the law.
A number of Italian media web sites carried the image of the advertisement showing David holding a bolt-action rifle.
The advertisement, from Illinois-based ArmaLite, carries the line "a work of art" in promoting the $3,000 rifle.
Mr Franceschini urged the company to withdraw the advertisement for the AR-50A1.
He said in a tweet: "The image of David, armed, offends and infringes the law. We will take action against the American company so that it immediately withdraws its campaign."
Historical Heritage and Fine Arts Board curator Cristina Acidini has issued a legal notice to ArmaLite to withdraw the image, saying it distorts the artwork.
The government says it has copyright on the commercial use of images of David.
Angelo Tartuferi, director of Florence's Accademia Gallery, where the statue is on display, told Repubblica newspaper: "The law says that the aesthetic value of the work cannot be distorted.
"In this case, not only is the choice in bad taste but also completely illegal."
The marble statue of the Biblical hero was created by Michelangelo between 1501 and 1504 and is considered a masterpiece of the Renaissance.
When statues are illegal
When statues are illegal
only statues will carry guns...
“If you trust in yourself, and believe in your dreams, and follow your star. . . you'll still get beaten by people who spent their time working hard and learning things and weren't so lazy.”
Re: When statues are illegal
I don't see the problem here; seems rather appropriate really...
David was a hardcore military leader...
From his young days with the slingshot, to his later days as a military commander:
David was a hardcore military leader...
From his young days with the slingshot, to his later days as a military commander:
If he'd had AR-50A1s available to him, he most certainly would have used them...David conquered the Jebusite fortress of Jerusalem, and made it his capital. David brought the Ark of the Covenant to Jerusalem, intending to build a temple. The prophet Nathan, announced that the temple would be built at a future date by one of David's sons (Solomon). Nathan told David that God had made a covenant with David, promising to establish the house of David: "Your throne shall be established forever."
David wins victories over the Philistines, and the Moabites and Hadadezer of Zobah paid tribute.[10]
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David
Re: When statues are illegal
Yep; and he probably could have gotten Uriah's wife that much sooner by making him the point man.
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MajGenl.Meade
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Re: When statues are illegal
Well at least the Venus de Milo is disarmed.
For Christianity, by identifying truth with faith, must teach-and, properly understood, does teach-that any interference with the truth is immoral. A Christian with faith has nothing to fear from the facts
Re: When statues are illegal
How long does it take for the image to be public domain in Italy?
It leads to thoughts of other possibilities. The Mona Lisa advertising KY-gel products. Passing around pizza at the Last Supper.
The possibilities are endless.
It leads to thoughts of other possibilities. The Mona Lisa advertising KY-gel products. Passing around pizza at the Last Supper.
The possibilities are endless.
Re: When statues are illegal
In Italy, the term copyright protection is the same as in the US--life of the author plus 70 years. these works are well beyond that date.
My guess is that this is rooted in their cultural heritage laws; I had always thought it protected works from being sold or taken out of Italy, but it does appear that some control of reproduction rights are granted to the commission. I don't know if the US would enforce this right or not for ads in the US.
My guess is that this is rooted in their cultural heritage laws; I had always thought it protected works from being sold or taken out of Italy, but it does appear that some control of reproduction rights are granted to the commission. I don't know if the US would enforce this right or not for ads in the US.
Re: When statues are illegal
Maybe I am missing something, but what right does the Italian government have to limit the free speech of an American company? This taseless ad is clearly aimed at an English speaking audience, presumably to sell guns to Americans in America. Is there a treaty that acknowledges the right of the government of Italy to own the rights to artistic creations of people who lived in Italy throughout the eons? Are they entitled to recompense from the former mayor of Carmel for the crime of spaghetti westerns?
Re: When statues are illegal
Preventing her humerus response to this folderol.MajGenl.Meade wrote:Well at least the Venus de Milo is disarmed.
Re: When statues are illegal
Would she have been ribbing along with us or had a more sternum response?
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MajGenl.Meade
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Re: When statues are illegal
Those wacky Americans! Not only did they give him a long gun ..... they also covered up his short arm.
I guess he would support the right to bare arms though....
I guess he would support the right to bare arms though....
For Christianity, by identifying truth with faith, must teach-and, properly understood, does teach-that any interference with the truth is immoral. A Christian with faith has nothing to fear from the facts
Re: When statues are illegal
LR--I've done a bit of searching, and haven't found any treaty or protocol which would force the US to honor this law, so the only recourse the Italian government might have is to prevent publication in Italy (or maybe in the EU if it applies across borders). Of course it is Italy, so they may make us an offer we can't refuse. 