The Birth of Venus, by Botticelli, targets environmental activists in Florence

Two members of the Last Generation group glued photos of damage caused by climate change to the protective glass of Botticelli's masterpiece The Birth of Venus, on display at the Uffizi Museum in Florence, on Tuesday. The images in question represent a town in Tuscany flooded to partly hide the famous 15th century painting depicting Venus emerging from the waters, standing on a large shell and her long hair partly concealing her nudity.

The two men were taken to a police station near the museum, the group said in a statement. The Florence Uffizi, one of the most visited museums on the peninsula, is located in the historic center of this Italian Renaissance gem.

“The government continues to pretend that the fields did not burn in January, that water will not be a problem this summer, that the homes destroyed by floods are accidents and not the result of human choices », Denounced one of the two demonstrators, Giordano, quoted in the press release. “And instead of confronting these real problems, he makes absurd laws” punishing climate defense actions, he added.

The Italian Parliament adopted a law in January increasing penalties against perpetrators of actions against monuments or cultural sites, in response to a series of actions by climate defenders. A law adopted after a Florence judge ruled in December that two activists who in 2022 had stuck their hands to the glass protecting another painting by Botticelli, also exhibited at the Uffizi, had not committed a crime.

The Last Generation organization began carrying out non-violent actions in Italy in 2022 around the time of the legislative elections, calling on politicians of all stripes to make climate one of their priorities.

According to the European Commission, Italy is on track to achieve emissions well above its 2030 targets. These protests in Italy are part of actions across Europe to draw attention to the climate, in particular by throwing soup, mash or even washable paint on works of art or cultural sites.