Italian Archdicoese Defends ‘Androgynous’ Madonna
The Municipality of Siena commissioned Axente to create the Drappellone, the painted silk banner awarded to the winning contrada, one of Siena's historic districts, in the city's centuries-old Palio horse race. Axente was appointed by the city government on the proposal of Mayor Nicoletta Fabio.
The banner was unveiled on August 10. It places the Virgin above Siena and its contrade, protecting the Golden Rose associated with Pope Pius II, and commemorates the 500th anniversary of the 1526 Battle of Camollia.
Axente called the figure her personal vision of the Madonna and said the figures in the work were “more androgynous” and therefore “universal characters.”
On August 13, the Archdiocese of Siena published a statement by Father Enrico Grassini, rector of the Collegio dei Correttori. He rejected the interpretation that Axente intended a deliberate provocation, citing her artistic background in Cluj, Romania, and her Orthodox Christian formation.
At least, Cardinal Augusto Paolo Lojudice of Siena separately described the Madonna as “very dark” and stressed the need to respect Christian iconographic tradition.
The race was postponed by rain on August 16 and again on August 17, with the Palio rescheduled for August 18.
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