Have you ever admired the ancient Roman and Greek sculptures, painted pottery, silver coins, and other items on view at museums in the U.S. or the U.K.?
It is such a complicated and knotty issue. John Oliver just did an interesting show about it. I think the the Parthenon Sculptures should go back to Greece but I was more conflicted seeing the extraordinary terra cotta pieces, Orpheus and the Mermaids. Here in Rome we have so much treasure, maybe these particular pieces should stay in Malibu so that people who cannot travel to Italy can see them?
I agree, it's definitely a complicated issue. In theory, I think it's fine for museums to keep art and antiquities that have been legitimately acquired with all the proper paperwork proving their provenance, but if it can be proven that the pieces were looted or acquired through the black market, they should be returned. The nagging question is how can the provenance be proven if the pieces were removed from their homes decades or even centuries ago?
And thanks for the tip, I'll definitely search for the John Oliver show! I'm curious to hear his take on it.
It is such a complicated and knotty issue. John Oliver just did an interesting show about it. I think the the Parthenon Sculptures should go back to Greece but I was more conflicted seeing the extraordinary terra cotta pieces, Orpheus and the Mermaids. Here in Rome we have so much treasure, maybe these particular pieces should stay in Malibu so that people who cannot travel to Italy can see them?
I agree, it's definitely a complicated issue. In theory, I think it's fine for museums to keep art and antiquities that have been legitimately acquired with all the proper paperwork proving their provenance, but if it can be proven that the pieces were looted or acquired through the black market, they should be returned. The nagging question is how can the provenance be proven if the pieces were removed from their homes decades or even centuries ago?
And thanks for the tip, I'll definitely search for the John Oliver show! I'm curious to hear his take on it.