Rop Saltberg
A work of art featuring Pope Francis just survived the first hours of daylight. The latest work by the Italian street artist Mauro Pallotta had already been sprayed off the wall at The Vatican, where it appeared. By Italian standards with incredible drive.
The mural by Pallotta showed Franciscus playing butter, cheese and eggs with peace signs on a kitchen step. With to his left a member of the Swiss Guard, on lookout for the Pope. After a tour on Twitter, the artwork disappeared just as quickly last Wednesday.
A municipal cleaning crew removed the painting with an activity that Romans are not familiar with from the cleaning service. 'Too bad. The work was completely complete. The Pope, playing with peace signs. Wonderful,' says the grocer on whose shop wall the painting was located.
Roman Banksy
Pallotta is seen as a Roman Banksy. Social critical work by the artist regularly pops up in the streets of the capital. Pallotta became best known for another mural by Pope Francis, which depicts the Church Father as a superhero. This work was picked up by the Vatican press service and became known worldwide.
Unlike the British artist Banksy, Pallotta is easy to find on a website. There he sells the work he first left behind on city walls in Rome. It is now waiting for Pope Francis on the kitchen steps.
Photo above: CNS/Carol Glatz
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