Getty to return 26 disputed artifacts to Italy

TheJ. Paul Getty Museum in Los Angeles has agreed to return 26 artifacts to Italy after a long-running dispute over whether they were looted.

The Italian Culture Ministry has agreed to long-term loan of other objects in exchange for the return of 26 items from the Getty collection, museum director Michael Brand said.

But, he added,the return was not conditional on theloan.

"While we continue to hope that the Italian government will honour its commitment to work collaboratively with the Getty in the future, as it agreed to do in October, the Getty's transfer of objects is not conditioned on any such arrangement," Brand said in a statement.

"Quite simply, we believe that transferring these objects to Italy is the right thing to do, whether or not we now receive anything in return."

Former curator is on trial

Italy has been pressing the Getty for the artifacts since an Italian investigation uncovered an international network involved in smuggling ancient works.

The Getty denied knowingly buying illegally obtained objects. Its former curator Marion True is on trial in Rome on charges of trading in looted artifacts.

The museum returned three artifacts earlier this year, but negotiationsbecameacrimonious. Italythreatened to cut cultural ties with the Los Angeles museum unless it agreed to return more artifacts.

That would stop the Getty's involvement in archeological digs and research in Italy andkill the prospect of loaned artworks.

Other artifacts still under dispute

A dispute overa marble statue of Aphrodite that is a treasured artifact in the Getty Villa appears to still be unresolved.

Italy claims the statue is looted, but the Getty says itwants tocontinue to investigate the work's origins.

The Getty has offered to transfer title of the 2,500-year-old statueto Italy while the investigation takes place, a process that could take another year.

Another disputed artifact is the Getty Bronze, or Statue of a Victorious Athlete, a Greek work believed to date from around 300 B.C.

Brand said the museum believes the bronze was found in international waters and he has told the Italians they cannot have it back.

More than 20 other artifacts areunder dispute.

Greece has lodged claims against Getty

The trial of True and U.S.art dealer Robert Hecht continues in Rome. The Getty is paying for True's defence.

The Italians have done an extensive investigation of their antiquities trade, which also turned up looting of Greek artifacts.

Greece also haslodged claims against the Getty.

On Tuesday, an Athens prosecutor filed criminal charges againstfive people, including adealer who sold to the Getty,for illegal excavation, smuggling and receiving stolen goods, in connection with an ancient golden wreath owned by the Getty museum.