ROME - Police in Venice forced Ken Howard, an 86-year-old Royal Academy English painter, to move from his spot where he was painting in Saint Mark’s Square as he had set up his easel without a permit, local authorities said on Wednesday.

 In light of the new battle in Venice against urban deprivation, it is now possible to forbid people to paint in Saint Mark’s square. Few, however, suspected that a prestigious painter of international renown who also greatly admires the lagoon city could be targeted.

 Howard, president of the New English Art Club until 2003 and a scholar at the Royal Academy since 1993, decided to set up one of three studios in Venice around 16 years ago. For this reason, he and his wife Dora Bertolutti spend a few months in the famous city every year.

 A little over a week ago, the two came on their annual trip, and on the very first Saturday morning Howard got to work. Although initially he chose a position near to the Ducal Palace, the rain forced him to move and he decided to move to Saint Mark’s Square. As a place he frequents often to depict, he is quite a well known sight – but apparently not by everybody.

 “Two police intervened,” his wife recounted, “and they told him he couldn’t be there. He tried to resist and give his reasons but they wouldn’t listen. They made him get up and told him to leave. My husband is 86 years old; it was difficult for him to move all his equipment. He is very shaken up.”

 It is the very first time something like this has happened. “How on earth could he have been disturbing anyone?” she continued. Friends of Howard, who are also artists, are due to arrive in the city next week from all over the world. However, with what has happened, how will people to continue to paint in the street? “This incident is very worrying,” she concluded.  

 “Howard is the victim of a new version of the law,” the Venetian group ‘gruppo25aprile’ said. “Are we completely sure that these should be the priorities of a city in disarray like Venice?”

 cb