伊、仏ルーブル美術館に略奪品の返還要求

【パリＡＦＰ＝時事】イタリア政府はこのほど、フランスのルーブル美術館に対し、略奪が疑われる古美術品７点の返還を要求した。同美術館が１４日、明らかにした。（写真は仏パリのルーブル美術館に並ぶ人〈資料写真〉）
　仏紙ルモンドが美術館広報の話として伝えたところによると、イタリアのジェンナーロ・サンジュリアーノ文化相が今年２月にフランスを訪問した際、返還を求める書簡を手渡した。
　返還を求めている７点は１９８０年代～９０年代にルーブルに売却されたもので、アンフォラ（かめ）や古代ギリシャの花瓶など、紀元前４～６世紀の作品が含まれる。これらは、古美術品の密売で有罪判決を受けたり、密売の容疑が掛けられたりしているイタリア人古美術商により取引されたものだという。
　ローランス・デカール館長はルモンドに「来歴が疑わしい作品はルーブルのコレクションにとって汚点だ」とし、「厳重かつ透明性を持って調査しなければならない」と述べた。
　現在、該当作品については調査中で、年内に返還される可能性もあるという。【翻訳編集ＡＦＰＢＢＮｅｗｓ】
〔ＡＦＰ＝時事〕（2023/07/18-15:32）

Italy has demanded the restitution of seven antiquities which it believes were looted before being sold by dealers to the Louvre in Paris in the 1980s and 90s, the museum said on Friday.
The claim, first reported in Le Monde newspaper, was made in a letter handed over by Italian Culture Minister Gennaro Sangiuliano in February during a visit to France, a spokesperson for the museum said.
All seven items, which include an amphora as well as ancient Greek vases ranging from the 4th-6th centuries BC, were sold by Italian traders convicted or suspected of trafficking in ancient artworks.
I consider that works of doubtful provenance are a stain on the collections of the Louvre, the museum's president, Laurence des Cars, told Le Monde. We should acknowledge and examine that with rigour and lucidity.
An investigation has been launched into the disputed pieces which could lead to their return towards the end of the year.
The Louvre, which is run by the French state, is the world's most visited museum and is home to some of Western civilization's most celebrated cultural heritage.
A former director of the museum in Paris was charged last year with conspiring to hide the origin of archaeological treasures that investigators suspect were smuggled out of Egypt in the chaos of the Arab Spring.
Jean-Luc Martinez, who ran the Paris Louvre from 2013 to 2021, is accused of turning a blind eye to fake certificates of origin for the pieces, a fraud thought to involve several other art experts.