[CPProt.net] News Telegraph Article by Bruce Johnston

[studio753bc at comcast.net]

In the article "Give Us Back Our Chariot, Umbrian villagers tell the Met", it 
is explained how the people of Monteleone di Spoleto are "respectfully 
requesting" the repatriation of a stolen 6th- century Etruscan treasure. The key 
word is respect and the museum's response was far from respectful. Mr. Harold 
Holzer, the Metropolitan Museum of Art's vice president of communications, made 
a feeble attempt at being witty when he compared the case to Italy demanding 
that France return the Monalisa.  
     On Aug 21, 1911 ( not long after the Met's acquisition of the Etruscan 
chariot), an Italian named Vincenzo Perugia stole the Monalisa from the Louvre. 
Perugia was a thief and the painting rightfully belonged to France. The 
masterpiece was smuggled out of France and placed in the care of Giovanni Poggi, 
director of the Uffizi. This prestigious museum, and the Italian government, 
knew the difference between right and wrong and the painting was returned to 
France. Where is the comparison?
     I recall reading an editorial several months ago in the London edition of 
the Art Newspaper, in which a New Yorker complained about the confiscation of 
the 4th century bc gold phiale from a multi-millionaire in Manhattan. This 
writer accused Homeland Security I.C.E. of "catering to the Italians". Even 
though this purchase was a violation of Italian law, this fellow did not think 
the Carabinieri had the right to request assistance from our customs law 
enforcers. Obviously many of our wealthy American co-patriots, and the 
institutions they work for, believe that they can have their way with Italian 
cultural property. If it makes it past the border it is fair game.
     Its funny that the museum held out the invitation to the opening of the new 
Roman galleries in 2007 like a carrot on a stick. Are they going to make the 
Italian dignitaries grit their teeth at this opening as they view the Etruscan 
chariot, the Euphronious Krater, the Morgantina Silver,..... Ask any agent of 
the Carabinieri's Tutela Patrimonio Culturale what their thoughts are about the 
Met's buying policies and you'll most likely get an earful.