Covering Art or Covering the Truth My Dear Berlusconi?

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Covering Art or Covering the Truth My Dear Berlusconi?

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If art work could talk, then I think Picasso's 'Garcon ala Pipe' (Boy with a pipe) the most expensive* painting ever sold in an auction would certainly say: "Hey chump, I know you just paid like $140* million for me and everything, but the significance I symbolize isn't as deep as you may think I bring. While, a dear "copied version" of my sister is being painted over, to cover not her modesty but a man with a lecherous grin!"

"Go, go and save her from the claw of the distardly one!"

And you'll be...eh, say what le author?

An act which made art historian obviously fuming over the decision -- then it is fortunate that the original version of "The truth unveiled by time" by Tiepollo is safely sitting in Palazzo Chiericati in Vincenza, Italy. (Which remain as originally uncovered unlike her twin).

Hung earlier this year, the blown up copy of the painting became the backdrop for televised news conferences - which Berlusconi hand picked it himself (it was reported that he admired the painting after seeing it a few years ago) to commemorate his third time in the premier office.

But instead, the exposed bosom of "Truth", the beautiful lady in the painting was touched up, covered up to protect the modesty of.... uh, Berlusconi?

Even the Vatican is perplex (as so am I) over the funny judgment to censor the image as Antonio Polucci told Iht, "because between its collection of classical sculptures and Rennaisance paintings, the Vatican is full of nudes".

With the obvious exception of the great Michelangelo's work of the Sistine Chapel, of course.

However the covering of the "truth unveiled by time" resonates the same effect as to the additions of the loincloths to Michaelangelo's nudes. It punches and drives out the powerful message the paintings is trying to represent.

Paolucci aptly reminded that the covering is a repeat of Daniela de Voltera, Michelangelo's contemporary who was given the massive undertaking to repaint the nudes of the Sistine Chapel earning him the apt title of the breach maker (il-Braghettone).

While Berluscone the il-modesto ironically owns Italy's largest private television channels (Canale 5, Italia 1 and Rete 4) which had without reservation allowed to display scantily clad women in variety of his television programmes.

In fact the semi-nudity of the lady of Truth in Tiepolo's 1743 painting was the key to the meaning of his work:

It was also reported that pictures showing Berlusconi in May earlier this year was untouched but an extra fold of clothing has appeared just around the time where the Prime Minister is becoming increasingly entangled in a chain of controversies involving some of his women friends, MPs and associates.

Tsk tsk..Are you trying to cover our eyes Mr Berlusconi?

(Meaning of Giovanni Tiepollo's painting of The truth unveiled by time can be found here)