Antiquities Diplomacy, Part II: More Italian Loans to the Getty

"Chimaera of Arezzo," Etruscan (from Arezzo,) 400-375 B.C., Museo Archeologico Nazionale, Florence
Photo: Fernando Guerrini

But wait, there's more!

I've not yet heard from the J. Paul Getty Museum about the upcoming loan of two bronze Apollos from the National Archaeological Museum of Naples, about which I've just posted. But hot off my inbox is a Getty press release about loans from yet another Italian museum, the National Archaeological Museum of Florence. The two museums have just announced a "long-term collaboration" between them, which, according to the Getty's director, Michael Brand, "will bring several of [the Florence museum's] greatest treasures to Los Angeles for the first time. They will become centerpieces of a series of special exhibitions."

The centerpiece of the first exhibition is the "Chimaera of Arezzo" (above)---an Etruscan bronze, 400-375 B.C., described by the Getty as a "life-sized" [can a mythical creature be life-sized?] depiction of a monster, comprised of a lion, fire-breathing goat and serpent. The show, opening July 16, "narrates the life and afterlife of an Etruscan icon."

The two museums will also collaborate on an exhibition of ancient Greek, Roman and Etruscan bronzes and a third exhibition devoted to the Etruscans, with loans from Florence and other Italian and international lenders. (Dates are to be determined.)

It looks like Michael Brand's patience in crafting antiquities collaborations with Italy, rather than arranging immediate compensatory loans (as was done when the Metropolitan Museum and Boston Museum of Fine Arts relinquished their objects) is finally paying off handsomely for the Getty.

[And my CultureGrrl "Donate" button is also paying off, though not quite as handsomely. Thanks to today's benefactor from New York---my 24th backer!]