The signing follows the announcement of an agreement reached last August and includes the return of 40 objects from the Getty to Italy, the adjournment of further discussions on the Victorious Youth statue depending on the legal process in Pesaro, and a wide cultural collaboration including the loan of important works of art, joint exhibitions, research, conservation, and restoration projects.
The signing between the General Secretary of the Italian Ministry of Culture Giuseppe Proietti and the Director of the J. Paul Getty Museum Michael Brand took place in the presence of the Vice President of the Council and Minister of Culture Heritage Francesco Rutelli, who stated:
“Today’s signing marks a new era. Long and complex negotiations end, but above all a new season of clearness begins in the purchase trade of archaelogical goods. The historical agreement between Italy and the Getty provides for the return of 40 masterpieces and establishes the limits of the scientific collaboration on an ethical basis. Today Italy is the leader of a cultural diplomacy which will make life more difficult for international art dealers.”
The Getty Museum’s director stated:
“While all of us at the Getty will miss having these objects as a part of our daily lives and learning from them, our scholarly research has shown that their proper home is in Italy. The signing of this agreement, coupled with our new, tougher acquisitions policy, means we can put the issues regarding these objects behind us and focus on building even stronger collaborations with Italy.
“While we continue to prepare for the physical return of these 40 objects, we now look forward to working with our colleagues in Italy to discuss long-term loans that will complement the Getty’s collection and contribute to our mutual goal of sharing with visitors to our museums in Los Angeles the rich cultural heritage of Italy.”