Second article in a series. View first one here:
In my first article on this subject, I discussed the Lysippos Bronze, a statue exhibited at the Getty Villa that was recovered out of the Adriatic Sea by a fishing vessel from Fano and smuggled out of Italy against Italian laws. In 2018, the Italian Supreme Court ruled that the statue was property of Italy and must be repatriated. The Getty is resisting and is currently attempting to convince a European Union court to rule against this decision.
I traveled to Fano and met with the mayor, Massimo Seri, also with Tristano Tonnini, the lawyer who for years has fought for the return of the statue, and Stefano Alessandrini, an expert in Italian cultural patrimony, a professor who also teaches at ARCA (Association for Research into Crimes Against Art) located in Amelia, Italy.
Alessandrini explained that: “Italian cultural diplomacy works very well. In past years we were very determined, we made excellent agreements. On the American side we have recovered wonderful works of art from many American museums. This must continue so that we can return the works to Italy. It is not right that they are in America; in fact, they were stolen from our territory, violating our laws. They must respect Italian law and ensure that these works of art return to Italy.”
“We are happy that the situation has greatly changed since the time when the Euphronious Krater was stolen by the tomb raiders in 1971. Unfortunately, we had to fight for a long time but finally we managed to win the vase and it returned also because America finally understood that the power of money can no longer buy whatever it wants. No one is the master of the artistic patrimony of another nation, and these museums buy with their power, but feed a terrible trafficking that destroys our cultural patrimony. Therefore, it is time to return to Italia all that has been stolen, all that has been illicitly exported, and to create a new climate of friendship between us and the American museums. We can do grand things together.”
Avvocato Tristano Tonnini stated: “We have had a discussion [with the Getty] and we have opened some scenarios and the fact of being able to collaborate in a certain manner, always recognizing as a basis the ownership of this statue. We could arrive at a very favorable agreement both for the City of Fano and the Getty Museum. For example, we could create a branch of Getty Museum in Fano, as was done for the Guggenheim in Bilbao and other parts of the world, with very important structures. Fano is perfect for the Getty and American students as well. There could be restoration laboratories and underwater exploration in the Adriatic. There is still an immense number of artistic treasures both at sea and on land here to be discovered. Many ideas can arise to create here in our Fano territory. However, it is very important to affirm the Lysippos ownership of the Italian State because otherwise they could set a precedent for the total looting of artistic works. “
Mayor Massimo Seri expressed his feelings: “Fano is strongly linked to the Athlete of Fano, to the work of Lysippos. So much so that you can breathe it while walking around the city. It is a relationship that has been going on for half a century now. Therefore, the Athlete of Fano of Lysippos weds with the City. There is also a problem of justice in respect to the works of art and their origin.
We not only have this relationship but are also ready to house the Lysippos. We already have a room, the Morganti Room, which has had important exhibits and has already hosted authentic drawings of Leonardo Da Vinci, The room meets all the important requirements of setting and temperatures suitable for hosting works of art of this type. We have not stopped here. If tomorrow Lysippos should arrive, there is already a safe place with all the necessary measures. There is a city affectionately linked to the Lysippos, there is a history that leads us to Lysippos which is a ready city that made investments to be able to host it in the best possible way. So, I take this opportunity to invite an audience from the U.S.A., home of the Getty Museum, to to meet in the City of Fano, come pay a visit. It is an opportunity to exchange viewpoints and see the city that links itself to the Lysippos.”
Stefano Alessandri proclaimed: “The era of power and money regarding patrimony is over!”
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