-Caveat Lector- Paper Links Boston Museum To Looted Antiquities BOSTON (Reuters) - The Boston Museum of Fine Arts, already embroiled in several controversies, apparently acquired scores of Greek and Roman antiquities looted from Italian archaeological sites, the Boston Globe reported Sunday. The newspaper said the museum seemed to have acquired the objects in the 14 years since it says it abandoned dealings in the illicit art market. The Globe said the questionable objects included three valuable Greek vases apparently excavated illegally from 2,300-year-old grave sites in the Apulian region of southern Italy and smuggled out of the country. In what the Globe called ``a telltale admission,'' the Museum of Fine Arts described the three vases as among a ''host'' of newly discovered artifacts in a book it published in 1993. The newspaper has been investigating the museum's collections with the help of classical scholars and art experts. It said it found that only 10 of the 71 items in the Greek and Roman collection had any recorded ownership or provenance. The remaining artifacts, including the three vases mentioned in the book, have no pedigree at all--strong circumstantial evidence that most were recently unearthed by grave-robbers, the Globe said. The accusations added to the museum's woes. Its ``Monet in the 20th Century'' exhibit, which closes this weekend before moving next month to the Royal Academy of Arts in London, was accused of failing to note clearly that one of the artist's works had been looted by the Nazis. And that was not the only Monet to cause problems for the institution. Claude Monet's ``Fields of Poppies at Giverny,'' which hangs in another gallery, has become the subject of a struggle. The painting was loaned to the museum in 1911 by the Right Rev. William Wolcott of Lawrence, Massachusetts, but the city of Lawrence now wants it back, so it can be sold to raise much-needed funds. Museum of Fine Arts Director Malcolm Rogers said in an earlier interview that if that was what Wolcott had had in mind, he could have sold the painting himself and donated the proceeds to Lawrence. A year ago, the Museum of Fine Arts turned aside a public demand from the government of Guatemala that it return scores of pre-Columbian artifacts looted from ancient Mayan grave sites in that country. The museum argued that the artifacts had entered the United States legally between 1974 and 1981. It was only in 1983 that the museum committed itself to international standards designed to curb the widespread plundering of antiquities. The museum declined to comment immediately on the Globe's investigation and suggested that reporters call its press office Monday. ================================= Robert F. Tatman [EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED] Remove "nospam" from the address to reply. NOTICE: In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, this material is distributed without profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information for research and educational purposes. For more information go to: http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.shtml POSTING THIS MESSAGE TO THE INTERNET DOES NOT IMPLY PERMISSION TO SEND UNSOLICITED COMMERCIAL E-MAIL (SPAM) TO THIS OR ANY OTHER INTERNET ADDRESS. RECEIPT OF SPAM WILL RESULT IN IMMEDIATE NOTIFICATION OF THE SENDER'S ISP. ____________________________________________________________________ More than just email--Get your FREE Netscape WebMail account today at http://home.netscape.com/netcenter/mail DECLARATION & DISCLAIMER ========== CTRL is a discussion and informational exchange list. Proselyzting propagandic screeds are not allowed. Substance—not soapboxing! These are sordid matters and 'conspiracy theory', with its many half-truths, misdirections and outright frauds is used politically by different groups with major and minor effects spread throughout the spectrum of time and thought. That being said, CTRL gives no endorsement to the validity of posts, and always suggests to readers; be wary of what you read. CTRL gives no credeence to Holocaust denial and nazi's need not apply. Let us please be civil and as always, Caveat Lector. ======================================================================== To subscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SUBSCRIBE CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] To UNsubscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SIGNOFF CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] Om
