vandalism of Italy's statuary

A story in the weekend Asian Wall Street Journal [no link] talks about "a curious crime spree" in Venice and Rome - serious vandalism of the statuary of churches and palaces of these cities. Targets included the Doge's Palace, Palladio's Church of the Redeemer in the Guidecca and Bernini's fountain of the Piazza Barberini. The Venice attacks were the work of one man, known to have psychiatric problems. The Roman ones seemed more spontaneous. Roberto di Paola, Rome's Superintendent for Cultural Heritage says "These days the masses have taken over. People don't appreciate these precious things - the art, the beautiful life. They don't respect what they don't know. The price is incalculable."

posted: Aug 1, 2004