Boston Gets "Peace" from Italy; Getty Gets Op-Ed Piece

I surmise that this statue from Italy...

"Eirene" (Goddess of Peace), Roman, Imperial Period, late first century B.C. to early first century A.D., (Height: over 9 feet) Marble, body from Mt. Pentelikon, Greece, head from the Greek island of Paros, Lent by the Republic of Italy

...is intended to substitute for this statue, returned to Italy on Sept. 28 by the Boston Museum of Fine Arts:

"Sabina," Roman, Imperial Period, ca. 136 A.D. (Height: 79 1/2 in.) Marble, probably from the Greek island of Paros

Italian Culture Minister Francesco Rutelli and Boston Museum of Fine Arts director Malcolm Rogers, last seen together in Rome, had another joint photo opportunity at a press conference today at the museum, where the colossal Goddess of Peace, to reside in Boston for three years, blessed the auspicious beginning of Italy's promised loans of works of comparable importance to the 13 pieces that Boston relinquished in response to Italy's ownership claims. According to today's press release:

In Italy, the head and torso [of "Eirene"] had been displayed separately, but MFA conservators have joined the two pieces together for display for the first time in modern history.

Michael Brand, the beleaguered head of the Getty Museum, knows no peace and has brought his angst to the pages of today's LA Times. His Op-Ed essay largely recaps previous statements (here and here), giving his side of the reasons for the breakdown of negotiations with Italy.

He ends, in time-honored Op-Ed fashion (and I should know) with a pointed dig at his adversaries that will not win him any points at the negotiating table (if he ever manages to get back there):

We acknowledge that the Getty must do its part to resolve this matter. But Italy must resist the temptation to allow political concerns to eclipse the goal of art museums around the world to give the public access to our shared art and cultural heritage.

I feel Brand's frustration, but calling his opponents names---politically motivated or, even worse (as he does), "emotional"---is never a good strategy for restoring an atmosphere of cooperation and goodwill.