Moore cuddles with cub lions in Bugari's autumn/winter 2010 ad campaign. Photo courtesy of Bulgari
The 67th Venice Film Festival kicks off today, and as numerous Hollywood A-listers descend on the city, there is one actress who will not be welcomed with open arms - at least if the city's mayor has anything to do with it.
Mayor Giorgio Orsoni has banned Bulgari's autumn/winter ad featuring a partially nude Julianne Moore, which had been due to adorn the Doge's Palace, overlooking St Mark's Square and the city's lagoon. The campaign, shot by Mert Alas and Marcus Piggott, shows the 49-year-old posing on a chaise longue with a handbag and two lion cubs covering her modesty.
"An advertisement showing a nude woman on a divan is not appropriate for St Mark's Square," Orsoni told Italian media. "I take account of the fact that Venice is part of the real world...but we cannot accept these Hollywood-style images".
Bulgari will instead use a fully-clothed image of Moore modelling Bulgari jewels. For what it's worth, we think that Julianne looks stunning, and the photos are anything but tasteless. What do you think? Is it right to tone down ads for public spaces - or is Bulgari being unfairly targeted? Leave a comment below and let us know.