Vittorio Sgarbi sues Facebook and Instagram over censorship of Canova nudes

Vittorio Sgarbi, president of the Fondazione Canova, announced he will sue Facebook and Instagram for censoring images of nude sculptures by Antonio Canova, specifically those displayed at the Gypsotheca in Possagno. Sgarbi and the mayor of Possagno, Valerio Favero, argue that the removal of posts featuring works like "Le Tre Grazie" damages the museum's ability to communicate events and exhibitions, causing economic losses. They seek compensation in court. This is not the first time Sgarbi has clashed with the social media platforms over art censorship; he previously proposed hiring art historians to review content. Other institutions have faced similar issues, including Palazzo Strozzi's promotional video for a Natalia Goncharova exhibition, Leonardo da Vinci's "Angelo Incarnato," and Sergio Cavallerin's "Morte e Tradimento" shown in Gualdo Tadino. Sgarbi invokes Articles 21 and 33 of the Italian Constitution, protecting freedom of expression and the arts. The hashtag #FacebookCapra has been used to support the cause.