Florence’s Uffizi accuses the couturier of ignoring requests for permission to use Botticelli’s masterpiece.
At the heart of the legendary nude clothing affair. The Uffizi Gallery, a museum in Florence, announced in a press release on Monday, October 10, that it is taking legal action against Jean Paul Gaultier. The question: “The Unauthorized Use of Botticelli’s Venus.” The institution that holds the birth of venus Botticelli’s signature painting, which dates back to 1485, accuses the brand of reproducing it in a clothing line “without asking permission”. Jean Paul Gaultier’s April 2022 social media pieces are from the Les Musées collection, revisiting classics such as: The three graces by Raphael and The creation of Adam by Michelangelo. The shirt, trousers and scarf with the image of Botticelli’s work immediately caught the attention of the Italian establishment. Who would try to contact the brand, in vain.
A bottle at sea
“A letter to Jean Paul Gaultier in April was ignored,” confirms La Galerie des Offices. Indeed, after the pieces from the collection are published, the museum will contact the Parisian brand to propose a commercial agreement. Or, failing that, demand that the line to Venus be withdrawn from the market “made without seeking permission (…) and pay the appropriate fees as expressly provided by law.” After launching the collection in August 2022 and facing Jean Paul Gaultier’s indifference, La Galerie des Offices is now demanding compensation. The court must judge whether the loan was granted according to the rules of art or not.
Source: Le Figaro
