The Getty Empties Out

A sad sight. I went to the Getty Villa in Malibu today to see the last of the 40 objects that are in the process of being returned to Italy over the next few weeks. It was a quiet day, and a sunny one. Pieces have been quietly disappearing from one day to the next. I met Surinder Kent, a security guard, who said he had a shock on coming to work today. "I came in this morning, and he was gone," he said, referring to the towering marble statue of Apollo that stood in the central niche of the gallery called the Basilica. Normally Apollo is the main figure in a long hallway lined by the muses and gods, one of which -- a Dionysus -- has also been removed for restitution. "I miss him like I was missing a person," Kent said. "It's strange. It shook me up. It's just stone. But you get emotionally involved." He sighed. "The gallery will never be the same." The Apollo was acquired in 1985, and was looted, according to Italy, a position that the Getty accepted in its agreement to turn it over. Kent has worked here for 18 months, and said it's a full-time education. "The beautiful thing about working here is all the oohs and aahs you hear," he said. "You grow inside a little bit." Here's the Apollo.

Follow Sharon Waxman on Twitter: www.twitter.com/sharonwaxman

Comments

[Libsrule]

It's kind of a shame that countries get like this. But I guess in the larger view of keeping the peace, giving back is all you can do.

Once upon a time few countries could care less about their national art treasures, but only what they could get for them through one means or another and now they all want them back claiming whomever gave/sold the item did not have the authority to.

OH well, I got to see them as well a few years ago. Walking through art museums is such an incredible thing to do. You have to take your time, and you have to, in my opinion, do it either alone or make sure whomever you are with is also into taking their up to and including separating from each other at various times to go where you want to go.

Don't be surprised if you never see any republicans in a museum of art. They haven't a clue anymore. All they see is a building(s) taking up space that could be turned into condos or industrial parks and make some serious profit right now.

[nihilon x]

As a classics major and a Los Angeles native, I'm glad I got to see all of these exhibits before they were taken away.

I can relate to what the guard said, however -- sometimes the memory is more haunting than the real thing...