Gian Marco Montesano's Palio di Siena painting accused of copying stock photo

Gian Marco Montesano's painting for the extraordinary Palio di Siena, celebrating the centenary of the end of World War I, has sparked controversy for allegedly copying a stock photo from Dreamstime. The painting, commissioned by the Siena municipality, was criticized for its quality and perceived lack of originality. Critics noted the subject as banal and stereotypical, with poor execution compared to Montesano's previous works. The controversy escalated when a link to a stock photo database showed an image strikingly similar to the drappellone. The Siena administration defended the work, with spokesperson Elena Casi citing Pop Art precedents like Warhol, Rotella, and Lichtenstein. Montesano defended himself, claiming his practice is medialist, referencing a postcard from Austrian propaganda that he subverted by transforming the soldier into an Italian from the Piave, removing the rifle and spiked helmet. He argued the stock photo might itself be a reproduction of that original postcard. The painting was completed under tight deadlines, with Montesano noting he had little time for execution due to a concurrent exhibition in Latina. The Palio Straordinario is the third of the year, added to celebrate the WWI centenary.