Statue of Pope Francis Unveiled in Italian Potato Field

ARTDAILY

Giuseppe Imperatore artist and sculptor (L) Barbato De Stefano (C) and Antonio
De Stefano adjust the vestments of a statue depicting Pope Francis in a small field of potatoes

ITALY---The first-ever statue of Pope Francis has been unveiled in a potato field near Naples -- an unorthodox homage to the fact that the Argentine pope's ancestors were farmers in northern Italy. The statue will be presented to the pope next month by Italian actor Barbato De Stefano, who comes from the village of Cicciano where it was presented and has financed the project. The primitive-style statue was shown on Sunday, with a painted background of the balcony of St Peter's Basilica on which the pope stood after his election at a conclave of cardinals in March. [link]