Guerra, Capitalismo & Liberta exhibition at Rome's Palazzo Cipolla. [Photo/Agencies]

"If there is one thing that defines him it's intelligence. He's very intelligent, and his artwork is intelligent.

"Each piece contains its own moral or social story, sometimes through humour sometimes through a bittersweet pill to swallow. At the end of the day he is a very smart individual."

Emmanuele Emanuele, chairman of the foundation hosting the exhibition, says it demonstrated how Banksy had addressed three central themes of 21st Century life.

"War, the changing nature of capitalism and the fight for individual liberty－this is what is radically changing the face of our society.

"His art tells us that if we throw flowers, instead of bombs and deadly weapons, probably life would be better," he says in a reference to one of Banksy's most emblematic images－a youth throwing flowers in the manner of someone launching a Molotov cocktail.

Andipa says he had owned or sold most of the works on display－and that he had no trouble persuading the owners to lend them for the exhibition.

"A lot of these pieces are here because of a few lunches and telephone calls," he says. "It was a miracle. What you see here came together in a matter of weeks."