Tomaso Montanari's Art-Historical Propaganda for Italy's Referendum No Vote

Art historian Tomaso Montanari, a prominent No campaigner for Italy's 2016 constitutional referendum, has been accused of instrumentalizing art for political ends. Montanari, a professor at the University of Naples Federico II, used a painting by Cecco del Caravaggio, "The Expulsion of the Money Changers from the Temple" (1610-15), as a "pictorial prophecy" of the No vote's victory on December 4. He likened the temple to democracy and the money changers to bankers, real estate speculators, and corrupt politicians, casting No supporters as new Messiahs. The article criticizes this as a forced, populist interpretation that reduces art and religion to advertising scripts. Montanari, once close to Matteo Renzi but now a fierce opponent, co-signed a document against the reform with Salvatore Settis, contesting its 47 modified articles, alleged illegitimacy due to the Porcellum electoral law, and residual bicameral matters. The reform, which does not touch constitutional values, aims to streamline state organization by eliminating perfect bicameralism, abolishing the CNEL, and clarifying state-region competences. The article argues that Montanari's rhetoric feeds on populist fears of global finance, citing contradictions such as Mario Monti and Donald Trump supporters voting No, and notes that Montanari refused a culture assessor position in Rome's M5S government but would have voted for Virginia Raggi.