Norfolk OKs mural of Roman goddess with bare breast

NORFOLK

A mural of the Roman goddess Virtus, replete with a bare breast, will be exposed to passers-by on Monticello Avenue after all.

The City Council voted 7-0 after little debate Tuesday night to reverse a decision by the Planning Commission to deny the law firm Montagna Klein Camden permission to paint the mural.

The firm, at 425 Monticello Ave., had proposed a 23-foot-by-11-foot mural depicting the city's progress, with ships, light rail and the skyline. Looking down on all of it would be the goddess Virtus, who appears on the Virginia state seal.

Artist John Hickey created the mural, one of several he has done in Hampton Roads.

The commission's 5-1 decision to deny permission resulted in a whirlwind of media coverage. Commission members said the issue was not the exposed breast. They said the Roman goddess was simply too large and was out of proportion to the proposed mural of the skyline.

Attorney Chuck Montagna said that while he respected their opinion, "I always felt like the wardrobe malfunction was the real issue."

The law firm appealed the commission's decision, resulting in Tuesday's hearing.

Planning Director Frank Duke said he personally briefed each council member on the issue, and none asked questions Tuesday night. Duke recommended the council approve the mural.

The only comment at Tuesday's meeting came from Councilman Andy Protogyrou, who jokingly said: "The only issue I have is that it's a Roman goddess." Protogyrou is of Greek descent.

Montagna said his family has had a business presence on Granby Street for more than a century, beginning with a shoe store.

There is already a mural on one side of the law firm's building depicting a scene from Granby Street in 1936.

"This mural will be just as beautiful," he said.

Harry Minium, (757) 446-2371, harry.minium@pilotonline.com