Los Angeles Art Show 1972

Los Angeles Art Show 1972

Greek statue controversy: Who owns the Getty Bronze?

The billionaire J. Paul Getty was an art collector throughout his life. He founded the Getty Museum in Los Angeles in 1974, and when he died in 1982 left most of his property to the Museum. That legacy instantly created the richest art museum in the world.

The Museum uses its wealth to quickly amass a large collection of art. Price seemed to be no object, because the nonprofit museum was that their investments were generating enormous amounts of cash. art dealers set their sights on the Museum as their most favored, but not always able to show clear title to the works that are offered for sale.

Title of ancient art can often be a murky issue. Works created during the Greek and Roman empires was often buried for many centuries before being discovered by chance. When found, the original owners, of course, has been for hundreds of years. One would think that makes it a simple case of "Finders Keepers", but not quite that simple.

The governments of the countries involved know their art history is an important part of their cultural heritage. It is also one of the main things that attracts tourists. These reasons, along with some prominent examples of the classics to be encouraged away in the darkness of the night, have caused these countries to pass laws limiting the export of ancient art.

In recent years, the Getty Museum has been forced back to dozens of works of art. And in this case, it appears that J. Paul Getty may have knowledge of legal problems, even before it was acquired Getty Bronze.

The Getty Bronze is a bronze Greek sculpture created approximately 200 BC. Displays a Victorious Youth feet with a crown of laurel on the head. It was discovered in 1964 by Italian fishermen accidentally caught in their nets. Apparently, knowing I could not simply sell the statue to the highest bidder, they hid the statue in a bathtub, and later in a garden, until they were able to find a buyer in the underground market.

The Getty Museum bought the piece in 1977. At that time, the museum said it had investigated and determined that it had the right legal to buy the piece. But the Italian government claimed shortly after the piece had been illegally exported. They demanded the return.

The Getty Museum and the Italian government has been in a legal battle for several years. However, this case has been complicated in recent days by the discovery of a letter from the consultant J. Art Paul Getty, dated 1972. In the letter, says consultant J. Paul Getty is likely that the piece can not be legally purchased.

The letter appears to undermine the argument Museum piece that acquired legally, and if anything unfavorable to pass the Museum did not know anything about him. The Italian government is pressing a claim that the Museum knew or should have known, that the statue was not eligible for export to Italy.

Art collectors can learn two lessons from this situation. The first lesson is that it is always important to establish the provenance of any piece you are considering. The second lesson is to never be able to determine ownership clear, even if you try to do everything right.

Some collectors have turned to museum quality reproductions of Greek statues as a way to enjoy Art of Collecting and avoid the risk of discovering later that they do not own what they think they have. Other collectors which limit the activity, leaving the riskier operations for people with deeper pockets.

About the Author

Anne Jackson Hart retails original and reproduction art at www.annejacksonhart.com.

Ken Tobias - Dream #2

 

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Los Angeles Art Show 1972

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