The Vatican Gets Sued For Allegedly Turning Artwork Into Stamp Without Consent
Image via Shutterstock
Back in early 2019, Roman street artist Alessia Babrow had glued her personal creation of an image of Christ, with her signature heart motif emblazoned across his chest, onto a bridge near the Vatican.
Last year, she was shocked to find out that the Vatican had apparently reproduced her image, using it as its official 2020 Easter postage stamp.
“I couldn’t believe it. I honestly thought it was a joke,” Babrow told The Associated Press.
Babrow found out about the recreation when a Roman street art photographer immediately recognized it as her work.
Alleging that the Vatican had been wrongfully profiting off her artwork, Babrow sued the Vatican City’s telecommunications office last month, seeking €130,000 ($160,000) in damages. She said she had attempted to contact the Vatican to negotiate a settlement, but it never responded.
In a bit of irony, the Vatican owns some of the most famous pieces of art in the world, and rigorously enforces its copyright. But in this instance, it’s been caught violating the copyright of a street artist instead.
The Vatican had issued an initial run of 80,000 stamps at €1.15 each, with the stamps still on sale at the Vatican post office all the way up to last week.
The artwork had been part of Babrow’s Just Use It project, a slogan she emblazoned in a heart across the chests of world religious leaders, including Christ, Buddha, and the Virgin Mary.
The works can be found across Rome, on walls, stairwells, and even bridges. The concept behind the series had been to “promote the intelligence and the brain of the heart,” Babrow explained.
The court has yet to rule on the matter.
[via The Associated Press, cover image via Shutterstock]
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