Laszlo Toth
Hungarian-Australian geologist and vandal (born 1938) From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Laszlo Toth (Hungarian: Tóth László; born 1 July 1938) is a Hungarian-born Australian geologist. He achieved worldwide notoriety when he vandalised Michelangelo's Pietà statue on 21 May 1972. He was not charged with a criminal offence after the incident, and was deported to Australia.
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Laszlo Toth | |
|---|---|
.png) Laszlo Toth in 1972 | |
| Born | 1 July 1938[1][2] |
| Known for | Vandalising Michelangelo's Pietà statue |
Early life
Toth was born in Pilisvörösvár, Hungary to a Catholic family. After graduating with a degree in geology, he moved to Australia in 1965. As his English was poor and his geology diploma was not recognised, he initially worked at a soap factory. In June 1971, he moved to Rome, Italy, knowing no Italian, intending to become recognised 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 (the traditional age of Jesus at his death) on the Feast of Pentecost, Toth, wielding a geologist's hammer and shouting "I am Jesus Christ—risen from the dead",[1][3] attacked Michelangelo's Pietà statue in St. Peter's Basilica, Vatican City. With fifteen blows, he removed Mary's arm at the elbow, knocked off a chunk of her nose, and chipped one of her eyelids.[3] He was subdued by bystanders, including American sculptor Bob Cassilly, who struck Toth several times before pulling him away from the statue.[4] Following his arrest, Toth repeated his claim that he was Christ and said that God had compelled him to destroy the statue because Christ, being eternal, could not have a mother. Toth was deported back to Australia, where psychiatrists did not consider him dangerous, and has not been heard of since.[5]
Literature and popular culture
- Toth is the eponymous inspiration for books of letters by Don Novello.[6]
- 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).[7]
See also
References
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