Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Italian art experts accused of censoring phallic fresco
The Telegraph ^ | Monday 22 August 2011

Posted on 08/22/2011 2:54:17 PM PDT by woofie

Italian art experts who restored a cryptic medieval fresco depicting a tree of fertility have been accused of censoring the work by painting over the numerous phalluses which dangle from its boughs.

The unusual 13th century Tree of Fertility fresco was discovered by chance a decade ago in the Tuscan town of Massa Marittima and has recently been subjected to a three-year restoration.

The experts who carried out the restoration have been accused of sanitizing the mural by scrubbing out or altering some of the testicles, which hang from the tree's branches along with around 25 phalluses. "Many parts of the work seem to have been arbitrarily repainted," said Gabriele Galeotti, a town councillor who has called for an investigation after seeing the finished work.

(Excerpt) Read more at telegraph.co.uk ...


TOPICS: Arts/Photography; Religion; Weird Stuff
KEYWORDS: ggg; godsgravesglyphs; godsgravesgyphs; napl; painting
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-8081-83 next last
To: Allegra; CSM; dayglored; Dutchgirl; Eaker; GQuagmire; IYAS9YAS; Jersey Republican Biker Chick; ...
ANYTHING I'D
POST WOULD
JUST GET ME
BANNED
♀☹☠☣☢★☆
MANGLED
GENITALS
PING

☆★☢☣☠☹♂

61 posted on 08/22/2011 5:34:14 PM PDT by martin_fierro (< |:)~)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: SunkenCiv; martin_fierro; StayAt HomeMother; Ernest_at_the_Beach; 1010RD; 21twelve; 24Karet; ...

Changing history is abhorrent.


62 posted on 08/22/2011 5:39:13 PM PDT by Lady Jag (Keep the 'ICk" in Democratic)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 48 | View Replies]

To: martin_fierro; Winstons Julia

brag brag brag

Hey, WJ, isn’t that a deadly sin? DO SOMETHING!


63 posted on 08/22/2011 5:39:23 PM PDT by bigheadfred (But alas)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 61 | View Replies]

To: bigheadfred; martin_fierro

Now now ... don’t get excited. Bragging is not a deadly sin.

Nor is begging.... but begging WHILE bragging should be ... and I digress...

But digression is not a deadly sin.

Unless you beg while bragging about digressing .....

But I divert....

And this makes me much like modern religion.


64 posted on 08/22/2011 5:46:39 PM PDT by Winstons Julia (when liberals rant, it's called free speech; when conservatives vent, it's called hate speech.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 63 | View Replies]

To: Lady Jag

The Sistine Chapel was lousy with nudity, thanks to the genius Michelangelo, and in the decades after subsequent Popes hired “breeches painters” to twine vines and such over the private and quite naughty parts. Those were removed during the restoration in the late 20th c.


65 posted on 08/22/2011 5:49:24 PM PDT by SunkenCiv (It's never a bad time to FReep this link -- https://secure.freerepublic.com/donate/)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 62 | View Replies]

To: martin_fierro

I don’t know why, you’re one of FreeRepublic’s favorite members.


66 posted on 08/22/2011 5:51:56 PM PDT by SunkenCiv (It's never a bad time to FReep this link -- https://secure.freerepublic.com/donate/)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 61 | View Replies]

To: Winstons Julia
Bragging is not a deadly sin.

For a priest, you don't know a damned thing.

67 posted on 08/22/2011 5:56:52 PM PDT by bigheadfred (But alas)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 64 | View Replies]

To: woofie; SunkenCiv
This seems to be a variation on the Tree of Life, the ancient fertility symbol. It's a very unusual piece, however, for Medieval Western Europe.

I'd hate to think any modern Western art scholar would deface a painting in restoration by altering its appearance.

68 posted on 08/22/2011 5:57:11 PM PDT by colorado tanker
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: bigheadfred

I never said I was a priest.

That would be bragging.


69 posted on 08/22/2011 6:07:20 PM PDT by Winstons Julia (when liberals rant, it's called free speech; when conservatives vent, it's called hate speech.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 67 | View Replies]

To: SunkenCiv
you’re one of FreeRepublic’s favorite members.


70 posted on 08/22/2011 6:11:39 PM PDT by martin_fierro (< |:)~)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 66 | View Replies]

To: woofie; SunkenCiv
Go here for a close-up showing the images. http://www.beyond-the-pale.org.uk/zxMassa.htm

This site also has an alternative explanation for the mural as having nothing to do with fertility, but complex imagery warning that if the Ghibelline party were to take over they city would be, well, screwed. The menacing eagles support that interpretation as they were a symbol of the Ghibelline or Imperial Party. Massa was a wealthy Guelph, or Papal city.

Maybe the mural survived because others thought it was a fertility piece and not political art.

71 posted on 08/22/2011 6:14:25 PM PDT by colorado tanker
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Winstons Julia
Yes, I knew it was a leap, but when you said Just remember to store some of them in a tight, dark space for the winter I figured it was one of those pairoballs and meant you know about sticking things in places you hope no ever finds out about and that's things a priest would know.
72 posted on 08/22/2011 6:27:52 PM PDT by bigheadfred (But alas)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 69 | View Replies]

To: colorado tanker

The Middle Ages produced some very powerful and very odd art like Bosch and Grunevald:

http://www.sci-fi-o-rama.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/01/gruen.jpg
http://gatesthecomic.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/hieronymus_bosch_hal-hefner_gates_heavy-metal-1.jpg


73 posted on 08/22/2011 6:34:44 PM PDT by SunkenCiv (It's never a bad time to FReep this link -- https://secure.freerepublic.com/donate/)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 68 | View Replies]

To: martin_fierro

most people would be able to tell at a glanse.


74 posted on 08/22/2011 6:36:20 PM PDT by SunkenCiv (It's never a bad time to FReep this link -- https://secure.freerepublic.com/donate/)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 70 | View Replies]

To: SunkenCiv
I love Bosch's stuff. Incredible imagery.

But I am fascinated by Medieval Europe and have never thought it was the cultural wasteland that is popularly assumed.

75 posted on 08/22/2011 6:44:05 PM PDT by colorado tanker
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 73 | View Replies]

To: bigheadfred

The art of subtlety goes poof.


76 posted on 08/22/2011 6:48:59 PM PDT by Winstons Julia (when liberals rant, it's called free speech; when conservatives vent, it's called hate speech.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 72 | View Replies]

To: SunkenCiv; martin_fierro; Winstons Julia
You people are great. But it's my bath time. Gotta go wash off the fruits of in my laver.
77 posted on 08/22/2011 6:50:47 PM PDT by bigheadfred (But alas)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 74 | View Replies]

To: colorado tanker

They were worldly. They were pragmatic. They were practical.

They were spiritual, but knew the hypocrisy they lived under.


78 posted on 08/22/2011 6:52:23 PM PDT by Winstons Julia (when liberals rant, it's called free speech; when conservatives vent, it's called hate speech.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 75 | View Replies]

To: martin_fierro; MeekOneGOP; Conspiracy Guy; DocRock; King Prout; Darksheare; OSHA; NYC GOP Chick; ...
Barney Frank would show up, but he's busy on the DSK thread.


79 posted on 08/22/2011 7:32:31 PM PDT by Slings and Arrows (You can't have Ingsoc without an Emmanuel Goldstein.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 61 | View Replies]

To: Slings and Arrows
Got a cool $2.1M...it's for sale.


80 posted on 08/22/2011 10:23:38 PM PDT by Daffynition ("Don't just live your life, but witness it also.")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 79 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-8081-83 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson