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<p>[QUOTE=&quot;Gavin Richardson, post: 3187467, member: 83956&quot;]Concerning the OP post,&nbsp; let me be clear, I think what happened to that late medieval sculpture was deeply regrettable. I’m a medieval studies professor and thus have a particular sensitivity to such artifacts.</p><p><br /></p><p>But I do think this phenomenon raises an interesting philosophical question. What is the function of this piece of art? What happens when a community has a devotional connection to the art, seeing it&nbsp;&nbsp; not as a museum piece but as a&nbsp; contemporary functioning aspect of their devotional practice? It seems that these amateurish “restorations“ occur when the&nbsp; art is in situ, not hanging in the Uffizi. I wonder what would please that carver more—the idea that the piece would be taken to a museum and be protected behind a glass case, or that it would be remain in the church, vulnerable to these kinds of “restorations,” but still part of the devotional life of parishioners?</p><p><br /></p><p>Please don’t take this comment as an indication that I’m OK with this pretty awful paint job. And I understand that the bare wooden sculpture can inspire piety just as well as the painted version. But I think it’s productive to consider that what we might term vandalism, the woman who painted the piece might regard as an act of piety.[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

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