[CPProt.net] Re: Italian government alleges Princeton museum has stolen art

[Charles V. Sabba]

    Princeton possesses artifacts that the Italian Carabinieri's TPC suspect were looted from Italy. The museum's art director, Susan Taylor, stated that if the Italian government proves the vases were received illegally the University will not fight to keep them. The Italian TPC is the world's elite art theft investigative unit. The university affirms that it it was contacted back in Dec 2004 by these authorities and questioned about the artifacts. The prosecutor, Paolo Ferri, and the men and women of the TPC , are sophisticated investigators who would not show their hand at the card table until all of the supportive facts were known to them; if they called, they already have the evidence supporting their claims. They are sincere in their desire to protect the art and cultural property of their people. Their hearts are in their mission. With them, It is all about the art, not the politics, money, or approval of institutions.
    Smaller American museums, such as Princeton, have a little more respect overseas for their ethical buying policies then our larger museums do. Princeton is the alma mater of the highly respected director of the Morgantina excavations in Sicily. This Ivy League university and its scholars have made great contributions to the field of archeology and the artworld as well. The citizens of NJ are proud of this Ivy League U and many enjoy visiting its art museum.
    Princeton should uphold its honor and not wait for an official request. As a native New Jerseyan of Italian origin, I would hate to see Princeton wait out the Carabinieri on this issue. New Jersey has a very large Italian-American population which would also find any procrastination distasteful. There are numerous forums where these issues can be discussed publicly-  the www, private clubs, various colleges with Italian programs, catholic churches, institutes and foundations, Italian festivals, and most important of all, New York's Italian language newspaper, America Oggi, which has offices in NJ and is sold at several thousand newsstands around New York City.
    The honorable thing to do would be for Princeton to return Italy's cultural property immediately and avoid being fingered by the long arm of the law. That arm reached all the way from Italy to the Getty in Malibu, California and can certainly reach New Jersey.

Charles Vincent Sabba Jr.
www.YourBrushWithTheLaw.com
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: http://duvel.te.verweg.com/pipermail/cpprot/attachments/20051119/8cc44fcf/attachment.htm