Getty May Surrender 21 Works to Italy
ROME — The J. Paul Getty Trust is prepared to return as many as 21 contested antiquities to Italy, its most significant concession to date, to settle a long-standing dispute with Italian authorities over allegedly looted art, according to sources familiar with the strategy.
Getty negotiators could formally offer to return the objects, which include at least three masterpieces on display at the Getty Villa, as early as today in talks with Italian cultural officials, the sources said.
Negotiations between the Getty and the Italians resumed Monday, with both sides reporting progress and hope that a settlement could soon be reached.
Getty trustees authorized the offer last week after a presentation by museum director Michael Brand, the sources said. It includes a marble statue of two mythical griffins, a statue of Apollo and a 2,600-year-old cup made by the Greek artist Euphronios, all prominently displayed at the newly renovated Getty Villa in Pacific Palisades.
Trustees considered offering the Getty's limestone and marble statue of the goddess Aphrodite, one of the most prized antiquities in the collection, but decided that they would need more evidence about the statue's origins first.
The talks began in January, when Italian Cultural Ministry officials presented evidence that 52 Getty objects were looted from Italy and trafficked by a convicted Italian dealer.
Getty board chairman John Biggs said Monday that an internal review of the legal status of the objects found "nothing that's black and there is very little that is white
He added, however: "Some of them are sufficiently dark gray that I don't think there's going to be a lot of discussions about them."
After daylong meetings Monday in which the parties discussed five of the contested objects, Maurizio Fiorilli, the lead Italian negotiator, said the talks stood in sharp contrast to a previous meeting between the two sides.
In the previous talks, an "old spirit" of the museum's sense of entitlement undermined serious negotiations. Monday, Fiorilli said, he found a "new spirit" of willingness, understanding and cooperation.
"There is a fundamental difference in today's approach," Fiorilli said. "You can see they are prepared
A second round of more technical talks is scheduled for today, and several participants said a tentative agreement at the end of the day was possible.
But that could be optimistic.
- Getty Had Signs It Was Acquiring Possibly Looted Art, Documents Show Sep 25, 2005
- QUICK TAKES - Italy to display returned art Oct 04, 2007
- Italy issues Getty ultimatum for return of works Jul 11, 2007
