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Genitals removed from Vitruvian Man on Olympic broadcast
13 Feb
Summary
- Vitruvian Man's genitals were digitally removed for Olympic TV coverage.
- Critics accuse Italy's state broadcaster RAI of censoring national art.
- Broadcaster claims graphics were produced by Olympic organizers.
A controversy has emerged surrounding the altered depiction of Leonardo da Vinci's "Vitruvian Man" in the opening titles of Italy's Winter Olympics television coverage. The iconic artwork, renowned for its depiction of a nude male within a circle and square, was shown without its genitals. This modification has drawn significant backlash, with critics accusing the state broadcaster RAI of censoring a national artistic treasure.
The "Vitruvian Man," considered a symbol of Italian art and ingenuity, was adapted to morph into images of winter sports competitors. This alteration led to public outcry and parliamentary questions, with political parties denouncing the censorship. Some compared the broadcaster's actions to those of religious leaders in Iran for perceived overreach in censorship.
RAI, however, has dismissed the accusations as "fake news," asserting that the graphics were produced by the International Olympic Committee's production arm, Olympic Broadcasting Services (OBS). OBS stated the graphic was intended as an homage to Da Vinci's original work and was aired without modification by RAI. OBS also confirmed that clearance was obtained from the Gallerie dell'Accademia in Venice, where the original is housed, and Italy's Ministry of Culture.
