Saturday, 5 January 2008

Recovered Masterpieces: Visitors in Rome

ANSA has reported on the exhibition of antiquities returned to Italy from museums in North America and a London dealer ("Art 'Homecomings' a hit in Rome", January 4, 2008). It notes:
So far, more than 5,000 visitors a day have braved the chilly weather and the steep Quirinal Hill to see the 69 long-disputed Greek, Etruscan and Roman works on view - most the fruit of landmark deals with leading US museums.
Francesco Rutelli, the Italian Culture Minister, commented:
Our tough fight to get these objects back has been amply compensated by the sight of the thousands of people who appreciate the beauty of these works and the significance of their coming home ... There is nothing sadder than great institutions who for years accepted works bought from traffickers ... That era is over now.

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