Italy has officially called on the Musée du Louvre in Paris to repatriate seven ancient artifacts that experts believe were looted. Among the objects in question is a black, 5th-century amphora attributed to the renowned “Berlin Painter” and a collection of Greek vases dating back to the 4th and 6th centuries B.C.E. Italian Culture Minister Gennaro Sangiuliano personally met with Laurence des Cars, the president of the Louvre, in February to discuss the matter, presenting a formal letter requesting the return of the relics.
According to a report by Le Monde, all seven artifacts were acquired by the Louvre between 1982 and 1998 from dealers who engaged in the trafficking of stolen cultural treasures. Sangiuliano’s letter urged the Louvre to address the issue of works with questionable provenance, which he believes tarnish the museum’s collections. Des Cars acknowledged the problem, stating, “We should acknowledge and examine that with rigor and lucidity.”
The Louvre has initiated an investigation into the provenance of the disputed objects. If it is determined that they were indeed unethically sourced, the museum may repatriate them as early as this year. However, the restitution process is not always straightforward in France, where objects owned by state-run institutions are considered “inalienable” and their removal requires special approval from Parliament.
In an effort to facilitate the return of looted artifacts, France’s Minister of Culture, Rima Abdul Malak, pledged in January to introduce several new bills aimed at easing restitution restrictions. One of these bills, pertaining to property taken from Jews between 1933 and 1945, was recently adopted into law on July 13.
This call for repatriation comes on the heels of former Louvre director Jean-Luc Martinez facing charges of “facilitating” the acquisition of illegally trafficked antiquities by the Louvre Abu Dhabi from 2014 to 2017. The case highlights the ongoing issue of illicit trade in cultural heritage and the importance of scrutinizing the provenance of museum acquisitions.
At the time of reporting, representatives from the Louvre had not responded to requests for comments on Italy’s repatriation application. It remains to be seen how the Louvre will navigate this request, considering the complex legal and ethical implications surrounding the return of artifacts with questionable provenance.
