Replica Of Michaelangelo's 'David' In Stamford, England Offends Neighbors
What passes for art in Italy is too risque for residents of Stamford, England.
Neighbors complained that a remake of Michaelangelo's "David" was indecent, because, like the original in Florence, the sculpture is nude, the Rutland and Stamford Mercury reported.
Within days of installing the reduced size version of the Renaissance masterpiece in their new front yard in May, Clive and Joan Burgess heard complaints that the depiction of the Biblical hero was offensive.
"It was offending folk, but I can't see the reasons behind it," Joan Burgess told the Mercury. "I heard someone was going to buy a pair of pants and put them on him."
Their neighbor gave the statue a haven tucked behind shrubbery in her backyard.
"It's a timeless work of art," her husband told the paper.
The real "David" at the Galleria dell'Accademia in Florence, Italy.
The art-loving married couple had to move a copy of the Manneken Pis into their kitchen, because the famous Brussels fountain is a boy urinating, the Sun reported.
A South Kesteven District Council spokeswoman denied that the couple was forced to relocate the statue. "We didn't deem it to be offensive however we did explain that several residents had expressed that they were upset by it.
'Our understanding is that we didn't instruct for the statue to be moved we simply passed on the concerns raised with us and the owners agreed to move it.'
Joan Burgess crouches with the copy of David now situated behind shrubs in her neighbor's garden.
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First Posted: 06/28/11 06:09 PM ET Updated: 08/28/11 06:12 AM ET