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SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 22, 2009
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'Gay Last Supper' Sparks Rage

Catholics upset over Vienna museum's painting of apostle orgy

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(Newser) – A tiny Vienna museum with ties to the Catholic Church has became the target of worldwide outrage after displaying a homoerotic mural depicting the Last Supper, ABC News reports. The painting, by one of Austria's most cherished artists, shows naked apostles drinking and having an orgy. It has now been removed, and the row has been characterized as a Catholic version of the Mohamed cartoon uproar.

The artist said critics were missing the point and that the apostles' orgy wasn't meant to be a dig at the Catholic Church. The 80-year-old self-professed Communist and atheist conceded, however, that he had been a bit surprised Vienna's Cathedral and Diocesan Museum—across the way from St. Stephen's—wanted to display the work in the first place.

Austrian artist Alfred Hrdlicka looks at his sculpture 'The Desk Murderer' at the opening of an exhibition. Hrdlicka's painting depicting a gay orgy at the Last Supper caused outrage.
Austrian artist Alfred Hrdlicka looks at his sculpture 'The Desk Murderer' at the opening of an exhibition. Hrdlicka's painting depicting a gay orgy at the Last Supper caused outrage.   (AP Photo/Lilli Strauss)
Hrdlicka titled his painting 'The Last Supper, restored by Pier Paolo Pasolini,' referred to a murdered Italian writer and film-maker.
Hrdlicka titled his painting 'The Last Supper, restored by Pier Paolo Pasolini,' referred to a murdered Italian writer and film-maker.   (Magnum Photos)
Pier Paolo Pasoline films
Pier Paolo Pasoline films "L'ngile selon St Mathieu", 1964. -   (Magnum Photos)
A homoerotic take on Leonardo Da Vinci's famous Last Supper painting caused a stir when it was displayed in a Vienna museum.
A homoerotic take on Leonardo Da Vinci's famous Last Supper painting caused a stir when it was displayed in a Vienna museum.   (Getty Images)
People are seen inside St. Stephen's Cathedral in downtown Vienna, Austria, Sept. 6, 2007. A museum over the road has caused a stir with its display of a painting depicting a homoerotic Last Supper.
People are seen inside St. Stephen's Cathedral in downtown Vienna, Austria, Sept. 6, 2007. A museum over the road has caused a stir with its display of a painting depicting a homoerotic Last Supper.   (AP Photo/Bela Szandelszky)
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