ROME (AP) — Italy’s Culture Ministry banned art loans to the Minneapolis Institute of Art, following a long-running dispute with the U.S. museum over an ancient marble statue believed to have been looted from Italy almost a half-century ago.
The legal dispute began in March 2022, when an Italian court ruled that the museum, known as Mia, was irregularly in possession of the Stabiae Doriforo, a Roman-era copy of The Doryphoros of Polykleitos, an ancient Greek sculpture.
The ancient statue was believed to have been looted from Italy in the 1970s, according to prosecutors.
A spokesman for Italy’s Culture Ministry confirmed the ban on Wednesday, adding that Culture Minister Gennaro Sangiuliano was “firmly convinced” of that decision. Last month, Sangiuliano had announced that the Italian government was working to bring the Doryphoros back to Italy from the United States.
REBECCA ENGLISH: Portrait of cricket
Brick Lane: Chinese political slogans appear on famous London street
Woman charged over Auckland hit
Artificial intelligence found to be 'superior to biological intelligence'
The summer after Barbenheimer and the strikes, Hollywood charts a new course
Donald Trump's Georgia judge dismisses some criminal charges
VOX POPULI: LDP’s Nikai’s ‘expenditures’ on books must make libraries weep
Israeli parliament approves amended 2024 budget to fund Gaza war
Arizona lands Oakland star forward Trey Townsend out of transfer portal
VOX POPULI: Early spring fills us with regret at missing out on winter’s charms
German leader says Europe must keep increasing aid to Ukraine after US approves new military help
VOX POPULI: Nikkei index soars but real economy still feels sluggish