Getty museum must return disputed art works-Italy

ROME, Nov 24 (Reuters) Italy told the J Paul Getty Museum in Los Angeles it must return all disputed art works in its collection and said the era when respected museums could get away with displaying looted antiquities was over.

But officials acknowledged there was little Rome could do if the museum sticks to its decision to hand over only some works.

''Can a big museum put on exhibition works that have clearly been looted?'' Culture Minister Francesco Rutelli told reporters.

''For too long the world accepted with indifference the existence of a big international trade of stolen antiquities. Now the era of tacit tolerance ... has ended,'' he said.

Months of negotiations broke down this week when the director of the Getty, Michael Brand, told Italy's culture minister in a letter that his museum would return only 26 objects out of a list of 46 pieces Italy wants back.

Italy's campaign to retrieve looted antiquities has yielded agreements with other US institutions such as the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York and the Boston Museum of Fine Arts.

In its discussions with the Getty, Rome has particularly insisted on the return of a prized bronze sculpture, known as the Statue of a Victorious Youth, and a limestone cult statue believed to depict Aphrodite.

In its letter, the Getty said it had no intention of turning over the 2,500-year-old sculpture, arguing Italy has no legal claim because it was found in international waters in 1964.

As for the Aphrodite piece, the museum said the evidence provided so far was inconclusive and more research was needed.

Rutelli disputed both views. ''The evidence is overwhelming.

From a legal point of view, there are no doubts,'' he said.

Reading out a legal document, Rutelli said the ''Statue of a Victorious Youth'' was found in Italian waters near Fano, on the Adriatic coast, by local fishermen.

It was then buried before changing hands several times until it was smuggled out of the country and bought by the Getty.

Italian authorities say they are investigating evidence that another 250 looted pieces ended up in the museum's collection. ''We have information regarding dozens of other works,'' Rutelli said, showing a stack of photographs of disputed objects.

The Getty case is complicated by the trial in Rome of its former curator Marion True, accused of knowingly buying stolen Italian antiquities. The 46 objects Italy has staked a claim to are part of that trial.

On Tuesday, a Greek prosecutor also charged True with knowingly buying an ancient artefact which had been illegally dug up and smuggled out of Greece 13 years ago.

Reuters AB VV0927