Italian art exhibits raise questions about offending Christians, non-Christians
November 13, 2015
An Italian elementary school has cancelled plans for a calls trip to an art exhibit, because school administrators thought that non-Christian students might be offended by Christian works of art.
The school, in Florence, had been planning a visit to the "Divine Beauty" exhibit at the Palazzo Strozzi, which includes works by Chagall, Matisse, Picasso, and Van Gogh. Some students' parents reportedly objected to the trip because many of the artworks deal with religious themes.
In a related development, representatives of Italy's Northern League denounced as "unacceptable" the display of the "Piss Christ," the shocking work of photographer Andres Serrano, at an exhibit in Lucca. The Northern League spokesman said that artworks that offend Christians should not be displayed in exhibits that receive public support, and announced plans to picket.
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Further information:
- Elementary school cancels museum visit on religious grounds (ANSA)
- Cristo nell'urina: l'opera scandalo patrocinata dalla regione Toscana (Il Giornale)
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