Metaphors abound as May sets out vision in Florence church

FOUR centuries ago, it was where Galileo was first accused of heresy for daring to think differently about the world.

Today, Theresa May will use the Catholic church of Santa Maria Novella in Florence to set out her vision of Britain’s future with a speech intended for the ears of EU leaders who regard Brexit as a different sort of blasphemy.

At 2.15pm, Mrs May will step up in the 15th-century basilica to deliver the 5,000-word speech hoped to break the deadlock over negotiations with the EU.

Her choice of venue has Brexitwatchers speculating over hidden messages. The church is dripping with art treasures, including Filippino Lippi’s fresco of the Crucifixion of St Philip, a rather unfortunate coincidence for Philip Hammond, the Chancellor, who will be with Mrs May on Friday, as will Boris Johnson and David Davis.

The church contains Masaccio’s 1428 fresco of the Trinity, credited with being the first painting to use perfect mathematical perspective – another neat metaphor for what Mrs May is trying to achieve with her speech.

The choice of a church (and a Catholic one at that, for a Protestant) is a risky one. Europhiles could accuse her of preaching the “Word of Theresa” and cartoonists could depict her as St Theresa, whose life was cut short before she could fulfil her true potential.