The Bronzes of Riace in Sardinia for the G8, a hypothesis that is worrying
February 15th, 2009 | by Benedict |These days the news circulating on websites of newspapers and news agencies: the Government is considering bringing the Bronzes of Riace in Sardinia for the upcoming G8 summit to be held in La Maddalena. A proposal that is drawing notes sharing, few and mostly from government circles, and full notes of disapproval by academics, archaeologists, and especially citizens.
And the other performers in this story do they say? The Minister for Arts and Culture Sandro Biondi, apparently, has made statements about it, but will meet Thursday Scopelliti, the mayor of Reggio Calabria, in whose museum statues are preserved. The Superintendent Archaeologist of Calabria Catherine Greek seems to have taken a wait-and highlighting the difficulties they face conservation works.
The mayor of Reggio Calabria, however, seems willing to listen to his citizenship, which in the past showed a firm "no" to a similar proposal. The "super manager" for Italian Museums Mario Resca, former President of Italy's M'c Donald, stated that only a favorable opinion of the mayor of Reggio give you the ability to move the statues. This, more or less, is the state of each other.
Our position on this is as follows. While respecting the institutions of their duties and realizing that the presence of the Bronze Statues can brighten the days of the G8, we do not support this choice, and we express our serious concern. The reasons are several.
The first is technical in nature, statues after their recovery, in 1972, required a long and difficult restoration that has allowed the current exhibition in the Archaeological Museum of Reggio Calabria, Sardinia in a shift of this magnitude would put a strain on two masterpieces, which could be affected so heavy, without taking into account the cost of this operation, which would clearly be substantial.
It seems that there has been a thought in depth about the "pros" and "cons" of this choice, it seems to have thought of bringing a "beautiful thing" to honor the members of the G8. Well, if that, apparently, was the line of thought, we underline our dissent, as this method seems too close to an eighteenth-century practices and "antiques", where the quest for "beauty" was the goal to be followed.
Today in 2009, and indeed a lot 'of time, there is a science called archeology, to which few seem to pay attention, and the case would be competent to hear the first archaeologists to "eradicate" the Riace bronzes from the Museum of Reggio.
Unfortunately, we must emphasize that this choice once again seems to mortify the category of archaeologists scavalcandoli, not even considering them.
The art and archeology are serious things.
What do you think?
Sources: adnkronos.com , unita.it , eni.it (accessed February 14, 2009)
Items that may interest you
Tags: Bronze Statues , Mibac , Archeological Museum of Reggio Calabria
3 Responses to "The Bronzes of Riace in Sardinia for the G8, a hypothesis that cares"
By Carmine on February 15, 2009 | Reply
I believe the issue should not be addressed so drastically. The Italian culture is the image of our history and sharing it would be a further development of the conservative path. This is one of the most famous works of humanity and not against (I'm a archelogo) to a hypothetical exposure during the G8. Just because we are archaeologists and conservators should act in the direction of a "wider use" where this is such a golden opportunity iportante. Clearly they are dutiful all preventive measures to avoid any form of detrerioramento bronze group of assessing the risks to which they would be exposed if the news was founded.