Monthly Archives: June 2009

Getty Center Displays Extraordinary Bronze Statue

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I was away for the last 2 weeks so i wasnt able to post any news. Everything should be back to normal from now on.

Statue of an Ephebe as a Lamp Bearer, a long-term loan from the Museo Archeologico Nazionale in Naples, is now on view at the J. Paul Getty Museum at the Getty Villa. The object, which was excavated from Pompeii in 1925, will remain on view at the Getty until March 2011. The Getty has also begun conservation work on another object from Naples’ archaeological museum—a statue of the Apollo Saettante—that will go on view at the Getty Villa following conservation.

The Museo Archaeologico’s long-term loans of two splendid bronze treasures, the Ephebe (Youth) and the Apollo Saettante (Arrow-Shooting Apollo), complement the Getty Villa’s collection of ancient works from Greece, Rome, and Etruria……….

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Update on Melbourne Museum Pompeii Exhibition

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A gladiator’s helmet left behind in the ruins of Pompeii is the centrepiece of an exhibition to be unveiled in Melbourne today.

The 2,000-year-old bronze helmet is one of 250 items brought together at the Melbourne Museum to illustrate life in the ancient city.

Museum manager Brett Dunlop says the helmet survived the eruption of Mount Vesuvius and was recovered 200 years ago.

“A large number of gladiators’ helmets and shin guards and shoulder guards were found in what was most likely a storeroom in the gymnasium area,” he said.

“Most definitely the gladiators who were able to would have fled away when the volcano was erupting and a large number of pieces of their equipment were left behind.”

Full story: Here

ICE Seizes a Cultural Artifact Reported Stolen in Italy Almost 12 Years Ago

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NEW YORK, NY.- U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) today seized a Pompeii wall panel fresco from a Manhattan auction house that was reported stolen in Italy 12 years ago.

The fresco panel, which was the subject of an international search by INTERPOL, was located by the Art Loss Register of New York and brought to the attention of ICE and Italian Authorities. Italian authorities provided ICE agents via the ICE attaché in Rome with information and documents identifying the fresco panel as stolen and part of the cultural property of Italy.

The panel, rectangular with a white background depicting a female minister, white wash on plaster with a modern wooden frame, was previously located at the excavation office in Pompeii and was reported stolen with five other fresco panels on June 26, 1997.

The investigation revealed that, between 1903 and 1904, the Italian government authorized a farmer, Giuseppe De Martino, to restore his farmhouse, which was located on an archeological site in Boscoreale, province of Naples. During the restoration, six important frescos, originating from Pompeii were found.

On July 12, 1957, the Government of Italy purchased the frescos. On June 26, 1997, after the completion of work to the excavation site, the Italian government observed that the six frescos were missing and subsequently reported the theft.

The Carabinieri cultural patrimony unit previously recovered the other five of the six frescos.

“We are pleased to assist in the recovery of this fresco panel. It completes the collection of the six panels reported stolen from the Italian government close to 12 years ago.” said Peter J. Smith, special agent in charge of the ICE Office of Investigations in New York. “ICE applauds the ALR for coming forward with information on the whereabouts of this precious cultural artifact, which will soon be returned to the Italian government.

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