Sir, - I would like to respond to the article by Fintan O'Toole on December 12th, in which he unjustifiably insulted and belittled the artistic legacy of Gianni Versace.
Firstly, the tone of his article betrayed a strong artistic snobbery. Fintan O'Toole's "finer" artistic sensibilities were apparently injured by the exhibition of Versace's work in the Metropolitan Museum. Elevating Versace to the lofty level of van Eyck and Picasso is viewed by Mr O'Toole as being in some way insulting to these artists. His reaction is perhaps similar to that of the stuffy traditionalists when Manet's Olympia was firstly displayed at the salon. One would expect a critic like Fintan O'Toole to have a more progressive view of art.
Secondly, dismissing Versace's achievement by referring to his creations as mere "frocks" and pieces of "gaudy cloth" is an outrageous insult to the artistic endeavours of one of the greatest couturiers of our time. Versace's golden safety pin with the head of Medusa is an example of how the commonplace can become art; similarly, Andy Warhol elevated the commonplace Campbells soup can to an artistic level. Is Warhol also less worthy than van Eyck and Picasso? What makes one artist greater than another? Mr O'Toole seems to know, he being the supreme arbiter of good taste!
In the throes of his artistic elitism and conservatism, perhaps Fintan O'Toole should ponder the fact that many great artists are not appreciated in their own era, but rather belittled by critics too shortsighted to see their far-reaching influence into popular culture. As someone who has had the pleasure of wearing Versace, I would urge Fintan O'Toole to do the same. After all, in the words of Oscar Wilde, "one should either be a work of art or wear a work of art". - Yours, etc.,
Castlefarm, Monkstown, Co. Cork.