Italy offers olive branch over ‘stolen’ Getty statue

An Italian politician offered an olive branch to the Getty Museum, in a long-running dispute over antiquities allegedly looted for display in California.

Gian Mario Spacca, governor of Italy’s Marche region, called on the Los Angeles-based cultural centre to “behave ethically” by returning works which did not belong to it, or at least to agree to a deal to share them.

A Getty official welcomed Mr Spacca’s visit – he toured the museum – but pointed out that the main contested work, the so-called Getty Bronze, was subject to ongoing legal action in Italy.

“We have not come to declare war on the Getty... We are here to try to resolve the dispute in a way that will benefit this great museum, the people of Italy and, most important, art lovers around the world,” remarked Mr Spacca.

Specifically, he proposed a “cultural exchange” deal to share custody of the 2,300-year-old Victorious Youth statue – commonly known here as the Getty Bronze – by Greek artist Lisippo.

“The Italian people expect a museum as prestigious as the Getty should not be trafficking in illegal art,” Mr Spacca said, adding: “The Getty should show the world it can act like a world-class cultural institution and behave ethically.”

Getty official Julie Jaskol said Mr Spacca toured the museum near Malibu, north of Los Angeles. “It was a friendly meeting and we were pleased that the (governor) and his group were able to visit the Getty Villa,” she said.

But she added: “We were clear at the start of our conversation that the Statue of a Victorious Youth, known as the Getty Bronze, was not a matter for discussion since legal issues regarding this object are ongoing in Italy.”

The nearly 1.5 metre bronze is one of several star attractions at the Getty, one of the world’s top museums.

The latest Italian offer came after a 5th century BC marble statue, the Venus of Morgantina, was returned earlier this month as part of an agreement made in 2007 with the California museum.

Italy claims the marble statue was stolen by looters at the end of the 1970s and handed over to an art trafficker who forged documents to prove legitimate ownership and smuggled it to Switzerland.