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| birth_date = 1 July 1938<ref name=Gamboni>{{cite book|last=Gamboni|first=Dario |title=The destruction of art: iconoclasm and vandalism since the French Revolution |url=http://books.google.com/books?id=60ba0VmXVM8C&pg=PA202|pages=202–203| isbn=978-0-948462-94-8 | year=1997 | publisher=Reaktion Books}}</ref><ref>''A martellate un pazzo in S. Pietro sfregia la «Pietà» di Michelangelo'', ''[[La Stampa]]'', 22 maggio 1972, p. 1.</ref>
| birth_date = 1 July 1938<ref name=Gamboni>{{cite book|last=Gamboni|first=Dario |title=The destruction of art: iconoclasm and vandalism since the French Revolution |url=http://books.google.com/books?id=60ba0VmXVM8C&pg=PA202|pages=202–203| isbn=978-0-948462-94-8 | year=1997 | publisher=Reaktion Books}}</ref><ref>''A martellate un pazzo in S. Pietro sfregia la «Pietà» di Michelangelo'', ''[[La Stampa]]'', 22 maggio 1972, p. 1.</ref>
| birth place =[[Pilisvörösvár]], Hungary<ref name=Gamboni/>
| birth place =[[Pilisvörösvár]], Hungary<ref name=Gamboni/>
| death_date=11 September 2012<ref>[http://www.heavenaddress.com/Laszlo-Toth/419863/ The memorial of Laszlo Toth (1939–2012) by Mareena Purslowe Associates at HeavenAddress]. Heavenaddress.com (17 September 2012). Retrieved on 17 April 2014.</ref>
| death_date=11 September 2012<ref>[http://www.heavenaddress.com/Laszlo-Toth/419863/ The memorial of Laszlo Toth (1939–2012) by Mareena Purslowe Associates at HeavenAddress]. Heavenaddress.com (17 September 2012). Retrieved on 17 April 2014.</ref> (aged 74)
| death_place = [[Strathfield, New South Wales]], Australia
| death_place = [[Strathfield, New South Wales]], Australia
| image = Laszlo Toth.JPG
| image = Laszlo Toth.JPG
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==Vandalism of Pietà==
==Vandalism of Pietà==
On 21 May 1972, during the [[Pentecost]], Toth, wielding a [[geologist's hammer]] and shouting, "I am [[Jesus Christ]] — risen from the dead",<ref>{{cite news
On 21 May 1972, at 33 years of age ([[Jesus]]'s traditional age at death), during the [[Pentecost]], Toth, wielding a [[geologist's hammer]] and shouting, "I am Jesus Christ — risen from the dead",<ref>{{cite news
| url = http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,905967,00.html | title = Can Italy be Saved from Itself? |date=5 June 1972 | accessdate = 15 March 2008 | publisher = [http://www.time.com/time TIME magazine]
| url = http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,905967,00.html | title = Can Italy be Saved from Itself? |date=5 June 1972 | accessdate = 15 March 2008 | publisher = [http://www.time.com/time TIME magazine]
}}</ref><ref>{{cite news
}}</ref><ref>{{cite news

Revision as of 17:39, 18 April 2014

The native form of this personal name is Tóth László. This article uses Western name order when mentioning individuals.
Laszlo Toth
Laszlo Toth in 1972
Born1 July 1938[1][2]
Died11 September 2012[3] (aged 74)
Strathfield, New South Wales, Australia
Known forVandalising the Michelangelo's Pietà statue
File:Laszlo Toth 1972.jpg
Laszlo Toth is being removed from Pieta on 21 May 1972

Laszlo Toth (Hungarian: Tóth László; 1 July 1938 – 11 September 2012) was a Hungarian-born Australian geologist. He achieved worldwide notoriety when he vandalised Michelangelo's Pietà statue on 21 May 1972. Toth was not charged with any criminal offence after the incident. He was hospitalized in Italy for two years. On his release, he was immediately deported to Australia where he lived the rest of his life. Toth died in a nursing home in Strathfield, New South Wales on 11 September 2012.

Early life

Toth was born in a small Hungarian town into a Catholic family. After graduating in geology, in 1965 he moved to Australia. As his English was poor and his geology diploma was not recognized, Toth initially worked at a soap factory. He joined fellow Hungarian immigrants, and in 1967 his skull was fractured in a fight during one of their meetings. In June 1971 he moved to Rome, Italy, knowing no Italian, and aiming to become recognized as Christ. He sent letters to Pope Paul VI and unsuccessfully attempted to meet him.[1]

Vandalism of Pietà

On 21 May 1972, at 33 years of age (Jesus's traditional age at death), during the Pentecost, Toth, wielding a geologist's hammer and shouting, "I am Jesus Christ — risen from the dead",[4][5][6][7][1][8] attacked the Michelangelo's Pietà statue in St. Peter's Basilica, Vatican City. With fifteen blows[6] he removed Mary's arm at the elbow, knocked off a chunk of her nose, and chipped one of her eyelids. Toth was subdued by bystanders, including American sculptor Bob Cassilly, who was the first person to pull him away from the Pietà.[9] In view of his apparent insanity Toth was never charged with the crime. On 29 January 1973, he was committed to an Italian psychiatric hospital. He was released on 9 February 1975, and was immediately deported to Australia where he had studied prior to the attack; Australian authorities did not detain him. He resided in a nursing home in Strathfield, New South Wales until his death in 2012.[citation needed]

  • Toth is the eponymous inspiration for books of letters by Don Novello.[10]
  • Comic book artist Steve Ditko used Toth's actions as the central metaphor in his 1992 examination of issues concerning creation and destruction, "Lazlo's Hammer" (corrected to "Laszlo's Hammer" in subsequent reprints and revisions).[11]
  • Oz character, Guillaume Tarrant is in part inspired by Toth.
  • Australian cartoonist Michael Leunig published two Christmas cartoons in the 'Nation Review' in 1975 under the nom-de-plume Laszlo Toth.

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d Gamboni, Dario (1997). The destruction of art: iconoclasm and vandalism since the French Revolution. Reaktion Books. pp. 202–203. ISBN 978-0-948462-94-8.
  2. ^ A martellate un pazzo in S. Pietro sfregia la «Pietà» di Michelangelo, La Stampa, 22 maggio 1972, p. 1.
  3. ^ The memorial of Laszlo Toth (1939–2012) by Mareena Purslowe Associates at HeavenAddress. Heavenaddress.com (17 September 2012). Retrieved on 17 April 2014.
  4. ^ "Can Italy be Saved from Itself?". TIME magazine. 5 June 1972. Retrieved 15 March 2008. {{cite news}}: External link in |publisher= (help)
  5. ^ "Notes and Queries: Whatever happened to Laszlo Toth, the man who smashed Michelangelo's Pieta in 1972?". London: The Guardian. Retrieved 8 June 2006.
  6. ^ a b "Chapel of the Pieta by Michelangelo Buonarroti, 1499". saintpetersbasilica.org. 23 September 2008. Retrieved 5 December 2009.
  7. ^ "On Negation: Bilderverbot – The Prohibition Against Images". www.christiancapurro.com. 16 September 2005. Retrieved 5 December 2009.
  8. ^ Evers, Chia (2006). "Laszlo Toth, "Jesus Christ," Attacks the Pieta (May 21, 1972)". Today in Odd History. News of the Odd. Archived from the original on 16 May 2006. Retrieved 8 June 2006.
  9. ^ Schlafly, Tom (29 September 2011). "Remembering Bob Cassilly". St. Louis Public Radio. Retrieved 23 October 2011.
  10. ^ "The Laszlo Letters (Don Novello interviewed by Bob Garfield)". On the Media. WNYC Radio. 2003. Retrieved 8 June 2006.
  11. ^ Lazlo'S Hammer. Ditko-fever.com. Retrieved on 17 April 2014.

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