The curator at the J. Paul Getty Museum who is facing trial in Italy on charges that she conspired with dealers trafficking in looted antiques has retired to concentrate on her legal defense, ABC News reports. Meanwhile the Getty has agreed to return to Italy three of the forty-two disputed archaeological treasures curator Marion True acquired. “The works are returning without an admission of guilt on the part of the Getty, but also without us withdrawing our accusations,” Italian Culture Minister Rocco Buttiglione said Monday
I read the book “Fun While It Lasted” last year by antique coin dealer and ex Los Angeles Kings owner Bruce McNall – he basically talks about the Getty as a place where he was able to “fence” artifacts with questionable provenance for quick cash – the pace that the Getty bought artworks in the eighties is legendary so its possible. But really, until the USA, England, and France start to admit that there are tons of looted treasures from other countries in our museums, this problem is not going to go away.
At the same time is alot of this “spoils of war”? and how does that count?