Italians angry over advert image of Michelangelo’s David holding rifle
In 1527 his arm was smashed by rioters. In 1991 a man attacked his toe with a hammer. Now, however, Michelangelo's David has suffered arguably his greatest indignity to date.
In 1527 his arm was smashed by rioters. In 1991 a man attacked his toe with a hammer. Now, however, Michelangelo's David has suffered arguably his greatest indignity to date.
To the horror of many in the Italian cultural establishment, the world-famous marble statue has been pictured in an advertisement cradling not a slingshot but an American-made rifle.
An image of David brandishing an AR-50A1 sold by ArmaLite, a 60-year-old Illinois-based small-arms engineering company, has provoked such anger in Italy that the culture minister took to Twitter to demand the advert be "immediately" ditched.
"The advertisement image of the [statue of] David armed offends and infringes the law," read a post by Dario Franceschini. "We will take action against the American company which must immediately withdraw the campaign."
Entitled A Work of Art, the advert shows David preparing to take on Goliath with the large rifle instead of his humble sling and stones.
Florence, home of the 16th-century statue, has expressed particular indignation. The superintendent for the city's historical heritage and fine arts board, Cristina Acidini, has reportedly issued the company with a legal notice asking for the image to be withdrawn.