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Getty Sends Looted Art Home

Italy wins decades-long fight over illegally purchased antiquities

By Jason Farago,  Newser Staff

Posted Aug 2, 2007 4:49 AM CDT
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(Newser) – The J. Paul Getty Museum in Los Angeles will return to Italy 40 works of art, including some of the finest in the museum's collection, following a decades-long legal battle. The museum has agreed to give up dozens of  masterpieces that Italy claims were looted, including its signature 5th-century marble Aphrodite, the LA Times reports.

In exchange for the Getty's decision to return the antiquities, the Italian cultural ministry has promised long-term loans to fill gaps in the collection. A Getty curator remains on trial in Italy for allegedly purchasing ancient Greek and Roman art of illegal provenance.

Italian Culture Minister Francesco Rutelli shows to journalists a document from the Italian Culture Ministry displaying the marble statue of Tyche one of the allegedly looted ancient treasures kept at the J. Paul Getty Museum during a press conference at Palazzo Massimo museum in Rome, in this Wednesday, Dec. 20,...
Italian Culture Minister Francesco Rutelli shows to journalists a document from the Italian Culture Ministry displaying the marble statue of Tyche one of the allegedly looted ancient treasures kept at...   (Associated Press)
This picture made available Monday, Dec. 5, 2005, by Italian Carabinieri, shows a 4th century B.C. stone sculpture representing Aphrodite that they claim was illegally excavated from Morgantina, Sicily, and is now part of the J.Paul Getty Museum in Los Angeles, C.A. USA. The Italian Culture Ministry...
This picture made available Monday, Dec. 5, 2005, by Italian Carabinieri, shows a 4th century B.C. stone sculpture representing Aphrodite that they claim was illegally excavated from Morgantina, Sicily,...   (Associated Press)
Visitors walk in the gardens at the J. Paul Getty Museum in Los Angeles, in this Sunday, Oct. 9, 2005, file photo. The Italian Culture Ministry said Wednesday Aug. 1, 2007 it has reached a deal with the J. Paul Getty Museum for the return of 40 disputed artifacts -...
Visitors walk in the gardens at the J. Paul Getty Museum in Los Angeles, in this Sunday, Oct. 9, 2005, file photo. The Italian Culture Ministry said Wednesday Aug. 1, 2007 it has reached a deal with...   (Associated Press)
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Full list of works to be returned
J. Paul Getty Trust

 
art • Italy • Los Angeles • museums • J. Paul Getty Museum • looting • Getty

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