What's happened
The European Court of Human Rights has upheld Italy's right to confiscate an ancient Greek statue, known as 'Victorious Youth,' from the J. Paul Getty Museum in California. Italy has long claimed that the statue was illegally bought by the Getty Trust, and the court's ruling supports Italy's efforts to recover unlawfully exported cultural heritage.
What's behind the headline?
What the papers say
The New York Times emphasizes the Getty's stance that its possession of the statue was appropriate and legal, while The Guardian focuses on Italy's assertion that the statue was illegally acquired. The Independent highlights the Getty's argument that the statue's Greek origin and discovery in international waters negate Italy's claim to it.
How we got here
The 'Victorious Youth' statue, also known as the 'Athlete of Fano,' was discovered by Italian fishermen in 1964 and eventually purchased by the Getty Trust in 1977. Italy has contended that the statue was smuggled out of the country and has sought its return since 1989, leading to a complex legal dispute spanning decades.
Go deeper
- Why is the 'Victorious Youth' statue so significant?
- What impact does this ruling have on future disputes over cultural artifacts?
- How does this case reflect broader issues in the art world?
More on these topics
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Italy, officially the Italian Republic, is a sovereign country consisting of a peninsula delimited by the Alps and surrounded by several islands. Italy is located in south-central Europe, and is considered part of western Europe.
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Greece, officially the Hellenic Republic, known also as Hellas, is a country located in Southeast Europe. Its population is approximately 10.7 million as of 2018; Athens, the nation's capital, is its largest city, followed by Thessaloniki.
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The European Court of Human Rights, frequently referred to as the Strasbourg Court, is a supranational or international court established by the European Convention on Human Rights.